Chapter 19: Plot In Progress
The next day, on the training ground.
The scouts were conducting multi-purpose shooting training. This year, the three new recruits from the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company were loading bullets for the veteran soldiers.
Xi Wa looked enviously at the veteran soldiers who kept firing: “Wow, my hands are sore from loading! There must be at least a few thousand rounds!”
Actually, this kind of large-scale shooting training rarely happened. Usually, it was at most ten or twenty bullets per person.
Hearing Xi Wa’s envious voice, Xiao Zhuang acted as if he didn’t care: “A gunner is fed by bullets. Good marksmanship isn’t about aiming; it’s about feel.
Feed ten thousand bullets, and even a dog can be trained into a sharpshooter!
Scouts, every one of them has to be a sharpshooter.”
Xi Wa looked at him in surprise: “Being the company commander’s clerk really makes a difference. You’re speaking more profoundly now!”
Xiao Zhuang smiled embarrassedly: “Miao Lian said it.”
“You two, stop chatting and hurry up loading bullets. The veteran soldiers are almost done shooting. If you can’t keep up, watch out or Chen Pai will chew you out.”
Perhaps Xi Wa really wanted to express his feelings, but Xiao Zhuang’s motive for chiming in wasn’t so pure.
He just wanted to slack off during the gaps in talking. Didn’t you see his bullet-loading speed had slowed down?
Chang Ning didn’t feel much about the shooting training. He was mainly keeping his hand in, after all, his strength was there for all to see.
Besides, shooting training was to improve the soldiers’ accuracy, and Chang Ning’s marksmanship made everyone in the company, from Miao Lian down to a private, give a thumbs up and say impressive!
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
Miao Lian strode over. The three new recruits and the officers and soldiers waiting to shoot saw Miao Lian and immediately stood up.
Chen Pai blew the whistle, calling everyone to assemble and stop shooting.
He ran to Miao Lian, saluted: “Report! The whole company is conducting shooting training. Awaiting company commander’s instructions! Duty officer, First Platoon Leader!”
Miao Lian returned the salute: “At ease.”
Then Miao Lian looked at the new recruits on the side: “Have you three shot yet?”
Chang Ning stood at attention and answered loudly: “Report, no.”
Seeing this, Chen Pai explained: “Tomorrow the Military Region Intelligence Department leader is coming for inspection. New recruits shouldn’t participate in the performance…”
Miao Lian waved his hand to interrupt Chen Pai. He was a bit angry, feeling this was faking it.
“Aren’t new recruits soldiers of the reconnaissance company?”
Chen Pai was suppressed by Miao Lian’s aura and didn’t dare speak.
Miao Lian glared at him: “I’m asking you. Yes or no?”
The answer was obvious. Chen Pai replied: “Yes!”
Miao Lian didn’t press Chen Pai. He knew the First Platoon Leader was thinking of the company’s honor, with good intentions.
“When superior leaders come for inspection, putting on a bunch of veteran soldiers, it’s them every year, all mature now!
This year’s rule has to change. For tomorrow’s report, these three new recruits must participate!”
The two privates became more nervous after hearing this, but Chang Ning wasn’t nervous at all. With work in hand, no panic in heart.
Xi Wa stammered: “C-company commander, we…”
Miao Lian glared: “I don’t want you to be the best, but you can’t be the worst! On this point, you two should learn from Chang Ning. Look at him.
Everyone remember my words: War is fought by the whole company’s soldiers risking their lives, not by a few military elites!
So every soldier in Night Tiger Company must be the best scout!
If not the best, they don’t deserve to serve in my Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company!”
The three privates roared in unison: “Yes!”
Miao Lian suddenly praising him caught Chang Ning off guard. He just wasn’t nervous; it wasn’t anything special. Could only say it was set off by his peers.
The next morning, the training ground put up a banner saying “Welcome Military Region Intelligence Department Leaders for Guidance.”
All officers and soldiers were full of vigor, faces covered in camouflage paint. Miao Lian wore a brand-new camouflage uniform, standing in front of the formation.
Three off-road vehicles sped up. The leaders got out of the cars, dusty from travel.
The door of the last vehicle opened, a black military boot stepped out, followed by a sturdy body in special operations camouflage uniform, then a black beret and Wolf Fang Special Forces Detachment armband, with two-and-a-half bars and one （ Army major） on the shoulders—Captain Gao of Wolf Fang Special Forces Detachment stepped out of the car.
Captain Gao looked at Miao Lian and smiled.
Miao Lian smiled too: “Old Gao, coming to inspect my place today?”
“Hah, inspect my ass? Just following Minister Zhao for meals!”
“Your place has twenty-two yuan meals standard every day, feeding you all so well. What meals are you mooching here? Mine’s nine yuan seven, steamed buns till full!”
The two chatted briefly, laughed, and shook hands.
Seeing them done chatting, Minister Zhao said: “You can begin.”
Miao Lian waved and ordered: “Begin!”
Chen Pai stood at attention: “Yes! Scouts, prepare for multi-purpose shooting!”
Seeing the three new recruits step forward, Minister Zhao was stunned: “How come they’re all privates? Old Miao, no one left in your company?”
Miao Lian smiled: “Privates are also soldiers of my Night Tiger Company. Since the minister wants to understand the reconnaissance company’s situation, privates are the most authentic reflection.”
Minister Zhao nodded: “Good, this is fresh. First time seeing privates report. Begin.”
Chen Pai shouted: “Shooting begin!”
The three new recruits heard the order and began multi-purpose shooting.
Outside the field stood several colonels holding binoculars observing. Captain Gao also held binoculars, watching very carefully.
Among them, Chang Ning performed the best, fastest speed, most standard movements, and most accurate marksmanship.
Even veteran scouts might not reach this level.
Minister Zhao put down the binoculars, pointing at Chang Ning’s figure: “Old Miao, that soldier is a new recruit?”
Miao Lian nodded proudly: “Yes, new recruit.”
Chang Ning was his killer ace. This time, he could definitely make the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company shine in front of the superior leaders.
“The one in the back is also a new recruit?”
“Yeah, new recruit.”
“You’re not having veteran soldiers change ranks to fool me, are you?”
Miao Lian pretended to be displeased: “What kind of person am I, old leader? Don’t you know? Would I stoop to that?”
Minister Zhao was half-believing. Chang Ning was first to the finish, holstering his gun and standing. Then Xiao Zhuang and Xi Wa.
Minister Zhao was very interested in these three new recruits and said to Miao Lian: “Have them run over.”
Chen Pai gave the command. The two new recruits ran over and stood in front of the leaders.
Minister Zhao said to the best-performing new recruit: “Remove your helmet.”
Chang Ning did so, revealing a face covered in camouflage paint but somewhat youthful.
“How old?”
“Report! Nineteen years old!”
Minister Zhao nodded and sighed: “The young are formidable!”
Unfortunately, Minister Zhao didn’t say, you’re the youngest rapid-fire sharpshooter I’ve seen.
Chang Ning thought it was probably because the youngest one was right beside him now, his brilliance suppressed.
Captain Gao’s mouth curled into a cold smile. He admitted Chang Ning’s skills were impressive, but in his view, just so-so.
“Thank you, leader.” Chang Ning answered loudly.
Miao Lian said beside him: “He was a university student before enlisting, graduated from Yanjing University.”
Hearing Chang Ning was a university student, graduated from Yanjing University, Minister Zhao was surprised: “Oh? Good, young people should wear the military uniform to defend the country. Set a good example.
But no more beating the squad leader in the future.”
Minister Zhao teased Chang Ning lightly, clearly not minding the incident.
The leader didn’t mind, but Miao Lian couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen. If Chang Ning’s reputation got bad, it’d be tough later. So he quickly explained the whole story to the leader, who just smiled it off.
“Work hard. I’ll keep paying attention to you!”
Chang Ning saluted: “Thank you, leader!”
Minister Zhao nodded, smiled, turned to Captain Gao and casually asked: “Captain Gao, what do you think of this soldier going to your special forces detachment?”
“Report!
Special forces have strict selection procedures. That’s the order you personally signed three years ago!
Now emphasizing rule by law in the military, I believe the leader won’t break his own rules!
You once said, the special forces detachment is a dagger unit, a unit that survives for war. It can’t be filled with back door soldiers or relation soldiers!”
Dog Head Old Gao said solemnly. No matter how skilled Chang Ning was, rules were rules!
