Chapter 45: Reactions From All Sides
Xiao Zhuang truly didn’t expect Chang Ning’s bottom line to be so low, using his comrade’s body as cover. Watching Chang Ning and Gao Zhong Dui chatting and laughing together, his heart was filled with sadness.
He felt hurt, and Chang Ning should come over to comfort his wounded heart now, instead of chatting with the special forces major!
Sure enough, the joys and sorrows of people are not the same.
“Gao Zhong Dui said slyly, ‘We’re both the same, our platoon leader was also tricked by you.'”
Chang Ning admitted to being sly, after all, what he did was indeed not honorable, but you, Gao Zhong Dui, can’t just point at me alone.
“What I did was just regular tactics, dealing with you was still a bit lacking in flair.”
Gao Zhong Dui casually blocked Chang Ning’s words, and compared to his sneak attack, Chang Ning was indeed much more vicious.
This time, Chang Ning touched his nose and said nothing; what they said was the truth. If he didn’t admit it, that wouldn’t be thick-skinned, but outright shameless. Chang Ning knew he hadn’t reached that realm yet.
“Alright, you can get lost now.”
Gao Zhong Dui laughed and cursed. This time, he had thoroughly shown his face in front of the entire army.
The Wolf Fang Special Forces Detachment’s company commander was actually taken out by a new recruit who hadn’t been enlisted for a year. He Da Dui was going to have his hands full.
Thinking of this, Gao Zhong Dui unkindly laughed. In Wolf Fang, he only handled charging into battle; administrative matters naturally fell to He Da Dui, the colonel.
“Xiao Zhuang, about this time, I’ll apologize to you after the exercise ends.”
Chang Ning said seriously. Jokes aside, he hadn’t explained clearly beforehand, so the apology still needed to be made.
“Psh, no big deal. Am I that petty? Besides, the results are great. Trading my body for Gao Zhong Dui was a huge profit, okay.”
Xiao Zhuang didn’t care about this at all. Seeing Chang Ning so serious, he quickly said it wasn’t necessary. His words were loaded and even teased Gao Zhong Dui. If Gao Zhong Dui minded, Xiao Zhuang would surely get the short end of the stick.
A major messing with a private like Xiao Zhuang would be effortless, as long as nothing too egregious was done—who would care?
“We’ll talk later. I’m heading out first.”
After speaking, Chang Ning handed his emptied rifle along with the corresponding magazine to Xiao Zhuang for safekeeping. He turned and left without any hesitation, leaving Xiao Zhuang and Gao Zhong Dui staring at each other.
After Chang Ning left, what the two discussed was probably known only to the parties involved.
Taking out the compass, planning the route, stowing the map, slinging the 85-style sniper rifle on his back, and munching on compressed biscuits, Chang Ning hurried on his way.
He calculated that from here to the artillery position, it was at least a 20-kilometer long-distance raid—practically exhausting. During the exercise, Chang Ning had always maintained a state of mental tension, not daring to relax even during rest. Though he could still tangle with the Blue Team search teams now, he was mentally extremely fatigued, unrelated to physical stamina.
When Miao Lian on the front lines learned that Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company was down to just a few cats, his heart sank. He thought: This is bad, that damn Old Gao is definitely going to show off in front of me again.
It felt quite unpleasant. How much effort had he put into Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company, yet there were no standout battle records. Thrown into the exercise, they hadn’t even made a splash.
“Old Miao, your company is impressive!”
Miao Lian was brooding when he heard this and was about to explode. Though Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company was wiped out, it wasn’t something to casually mock!
Looking up, it turned out to be their regiment’s political commissar, holding a sheet of A4 paper, walking in with a beaming smile.
If he didn’t know this was one of their own, Miao Lian would have thought some bastard came specifically to laugh at him.
“Political commissar, no need to say more about our company’s situation now. What do you mean by that?”
Miao Lian was in a bad mood now. Forget the political commissar—even if the regiment commander came, he’d dare to give him attitude. Moreover, the political commissar’s behavior seemed like sarcasm no matter how you looked at it.
“Old Miao, you’ve wronged me.”
“Here, take a look.”
The political commissar was shrewd and instantly knew why Old Miao was giving him a cold shoulder.
He handed the A4 paper in his hand to Miao Lian.
“What’s this?”
Miao Lian took the paper, full of doubt.
“You’ll know when you look.”
The political commissar teased, not saying right away. Saying it would ruin the surprise.
Seeing the political commissar not speaking, Miao Lian shifted his gaze to the paper in his hand.
First to catch his eye was the regiment headquarters’ official red-headed document. Miao Lian thought: It’s over! Did the regiment directly discipline me? No way—large-scale group combats wipe out plenty of companies, not just my Night Tiger one. Why single me out?
This isn’t fair!
With an indignant mood, Miao Lian continued reading. He wanted to see how the regiment had judged him.
The further he read, the stranger Miao Lian’s expression became. Finally, his whole face broke into a smile, wrinkles and all.
Clearly, he was trying hard to hold back laughter.
“Old Miao, laugh if you want—holding it in must be uncomfortable. Let me tell you, after the exercise ends, there’s a commendation coming from the military region.”
“This time, your company showed its face and really brought honor to our regiment.”
The political commissar had his fill of Miao Lian’s antics before telling him not to hold back, then dropped another bombshell.
Compared to the regiment’s commendation, the military region’s carried much more weight.
“What’s the exact situation? This commendation doesn’t explain clearly.”
Miao Lian was stunned by this barrage. As Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company’s commander, he genuinely didn’t know what was going on.
Their company wasn’t wiped out, with only three left?
“Forgot to tell you.”
Hearing Miao Lian’s question, the political commissar reacted and continued: “Your company’s Chang Ning, single-handedly in the Blue Team’s rear, took out two of their search teams—a total of 30 people.”
“Then he drew the attention of most Blue Team rear search teams, creating favorable conditions for our other reconnaissance units.”
That’s it?
Miao Lian recalled Chang Ning’s strength; Chang Ning indeed had the capability for that.
But if that was all, it would at most merit a regiment commendation—not military region level. Miao Lian was sure the political commissar had bigger news coming, and sure enough, what followed was the key point.
“Afterward, Chang Ning, Chen Guotao, and Zhuang Yan—the three of them—also took out the Blue Team’s missile unit. Note that during this process, it involved these three people.”
“The news has been confirmed with the missile unit’s leadership.”
“Great!”
Miao Lian laughed heartily upon hearing this. It sounded exhilarating! Previously, only Wolf Fang people could pull off such feats, but now his Old Miao’s men did it too. Now he could deflate Old Gao’s ego.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, there’s more.”
The political commissar said smiling, happy inside since their regiment benefited too.
“More! Political commissar, tell me quickly.”
Miao Lian pulled a folding stool from under the camp bed, sat the political commissar down, poured him a cup of water, and excitedly urged him to continue.
The political commissar sipped from the water cup gently; talking so much had dried out his mouth.
“Then they raided the Blue Team’s radar base and conducted a decapitation operation. Informatized combat squadron’s Shi Xiaoyong was eliminated, and radar base commander Zhang Guangzhi was captured.”
“No wonder the Blue Team’s electronic blockade on us stopped briefly the day before yesterday—it was those three kids.”
Miao Lian said cheerfully.
“Don’t interrupt, there’s more. You and Wolf Fang’s Gao Zhong Dui are old acquaintances—they ran into each other in the forest.”
“They weren’t eliminated, were they?”
Miao Lian grew worried hearing this.
Old Gao’s skills and experience outmatched three scouts, and he surely wouldn’t act alone—definitely with a search team. If caught, Chang Ning and the others would struggle to escape.
“They weren’t eliminated—they eliminated Gao Zhong Dui instead!”
The political commissar patted Miao Lian’s thigh, signaling him to relax.
‘What! Chang Ning and them eliminated Old Gao? Impossible! I must not be awake today, daydreaming.’
Miao Lian couldn’t believe it 120%; their strengths weren’t equal at all.
“This is impossible!”
Miao Lian blurted out!
“It’s true, the operations department confirmed it, but details will only be known after the exercise.”
“Eliminated soldiers are all at the operations department now; we can’t inquire easily.”
It felt too dreamlike. Even with the political commissar’s confirmation, Miao Lian still felt like it was a dream.
“Alright, I’m off—lots to do, can’t chat more.”
Seeing Miao Lian distracted, the political commissar understood. When he first heard, he reacted similarly. Could a private pull this off?
“Political commissar, take care. Come by anytime if free.”
“You think this is visiting relatives? I’ve got a pile of work—no time for that.”
After seeing the political commissar out, Miao Lian remained immersed in huge joy, then started worrying again.
Chang Ning was excellent, no doubt. The question was, was sending such a good prospect to Wolf Fang really appropriate? Grassroots units needed development too, couldn’t do without talents like Chang Ning.
But Wolf Fang was his lifelong regret, even obsession. Miao Lian wanted to train top scouts to show Wolf Fang’s old buddies that his trainees were no worse!
“This Chang Ning really knows how to give headaches!”
If he’d known Chang Ning was this outstanding, he never would’ve let him participate now.
Miao Lian somewhat regretted letting Chang Ning join this exercise. After it ended, units would swarm like sharks smelling blood to poach him.
In the 21st century, talent was most important—everyone needed it!
“Whatever, if it comes to that, I’ll just send Chang Ning to Wolf Fang.”
Miao Lian thought, and he wouldn’t be in the unit much longer anyway. Army reform winds had reached their regiment; veterans had to make way for newcomers.
……
Raiding 20 kilometers, and on mountain roads—even with Chang Ning’s stamina far exceeding most scouts, it was tough.
He didn’t dare stop to rest. Having eliminated Gao Zhong Dui, the Blue Team search teams would go mad.
Before, Chang Ning was just slapping search teams; now he was rubbing them into the dirt repeatedly.
His threat level to the Blue Team would surely rise.
Recalling what he’d done in the Blue Team heartland, Chang Ning thought if he were the Blue Team commander, he wouldn’t let such a huge threat roam free.
Deal with internal threats before external! Who’d let Chang Ning keep bouncing around!
“No matter how you calculate, eliminating Gao Zhong Dui this round was a loss for me.”
Next, the Blue Team would hunt him furiously; survival in this area would get harder.
“Maybe go somewhere else?”
Chang Ning dismissed the idea as soon as it arose. At this point, anywhere would be the same.
“Still best to act alone—no need to worry about teammates or coordinating without conflict.”
Alone in the jungle, hide from large Blue Team forces; he could handle small units.
While Chang Ning headed to the 323 artillery position, the Blue Team command post was in chaos.
“What a disgrace! What is this? Huh!
Someone tell me—our missile unit and radar base taken out by mere three Red Team scouts? What are your search teams doing?
And what’s with Wolf Fang? All that military expenses yearly—toss it in water and it’d make a splash.”
“So what happened?”
The one raging was this exercise’s Blue Team commander, Chen Jinshou.
“Old Chen, calm down. Battlefield changes in an instant—who knows what happens next?”
“I think Xiao He and them aren’t without achievements. Most Red Team recon units captured this exercise were led by Wolf Fang people.”
“They contributed plenty to Blue Team, and the private who eliminated Xiao Gao isn’t simple.”
He Fu was speaking and handed Chang Ning’s information to Chen Jinshou—a single A4 sheet packed with text.
It detailed from Chang Ning’s kindergarten playhouse kisses to school theses, and post-enlistment minutiae, all recorded clearly!
“Didn’t expect our Southeast Military Region to have such a genius. Placing him in grassroots is a waste; he should shine in a more special department.”
After reading, Chen Jinshou’s anger subsided. From the info, single-on-one combat with Chang Ning was hard to win.
Chang Ning would one-shot enemies upon discovery or flee if outmatched; no one could catch him in the forest.
The only unknown was his close-quarters ability, but someone like that surely fixed his shortcomings.
“We’ll discuss Chang Ning’s posting later. Now we’re enemies—gotta figure out how to capture him!”
He Fu said.
Ain Xin Jue Luo Zi Mo, God’s adult, long time no see!
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