Chapter 131: The Division Commander’s Doubts!
Perhaps it was to promote the synthesized mode, or maybe to grasp more initiative.
Originally just a confrontation military exercise played within the regiment itself, under Regiment Commander Wang’s personal maneuvering, surprisingly invited Chief of Staff Shi as a guest.
Chief of Staff Shi personally coming to watch the confrontation military exercise meant upgrading from regiment to division.
Completely another level!
Originally just a synthesized experiment done within the regiment, it couldn’t decide anything substantial, but now with the division leader’s participation, the confrontation result will decide many things.
For example, whether the combined arms company reorganization can be implemented, the final decision rests with the division.
Although Chief of Staff Shi was dispatched by the Division Commander, the Division Commander seemed to have sent the Chief of Staff to watch the confrontation only out of regard for Regiment Commander Wang’s seniority.
In reality, neither the Chief of Staff nor the Division Commander was merely giving face to Regiment Commander Wang.
It also carried another layer of deeper meaning!
That was when hearing Regiment Commander Wang’s introduction, he specifically mentioned that one side of this confrontation was the company from 702 Regiment that, in response to the call for modern military reform, had proactively attempted synthesized modification on its own.
And this company that had proactively undergone synthesized modification happened to be Steel Seventh Company, which had shone brightly in the division grand competition.
Steel Seventh Company had just taken first place in the division grand competition on its front foot, moreover breaking multiple division records and even an all-army record, securing it with absolute strength.
On its back foot, it proactively underwent military reform, and it was combined arms unit, which hadn’t yet popularized domestically but had high international buzz.
Combining these two points, the hype was already high enough.
To reach the positions of Division Commander and Chief of Staff, they definitely had very sensitive awareness of mainstream information on armies of various countries internationally.
Combined arms tactics, which grassroots hadn’t even heard of, the Division Commander and Chief of Staff had long been familiar with.
It was just that they lacked mature experience on exactly how to implement it.
Moreover, because “headquarters” also lacked mature technology, synthesized mode was still in the exploration phase by experimental units, and combined arms tactics were essentially still in the experimental stage.
Before technology and experience were fully mature, it was impossible to promote it across the entire army.
This led to even division leaders, or even group army leaders, knowing about combined arms tactics but having no way to implement them due to lack of technology and experience.
They were still in the stage of knowing about it and waiting for the fruit to ripen from above.
But it was under this background where even superiors didn’t know…
Within T Division’s own troops, there was actually already a unit that could perform synthesized modification on its own, and it was a grassroots company doing it itself.
A mere bottom-level grassroots company achieving what even division headquarters and military region couldn’t.
No matter how you listened, it sounded fishy!
It was precisely because of this incredulous point that the Division Commander seriously doubted the authenticity of the synthesized modification, questioning whether Steel Seventh Company’s synthesized modification was just a shell.
Deliberately creating hype for attention, a trick with no substance.
But while suspicion was heavy, the Division Commander couldn’t resist the curiosity in his heart.
Moreover, Steel Seventh Company wasn’t an ordinary company; its exaggerated grand competition results were right there, not like a company that would do sensationalism,
Under the influence of this conflicting emotion before and after, this prompted the Division Commander to decide to investigate personally.
Not only specially sending someone to watch, but sending the heavyweight Chief of Staff Shi to come to 702 Regiment on his behalf to watch the confrontation military exercise on site.
Through Steel Seventh Company’s confrontation exercise actual situation, to verify the truth of this matter.
Nowadays, the buzz around synthesized mode was very high in the army’s upper echelons.
If not for already receiving group army orders that 703 Regiment under T Division would undergo a baseline assessment by the mysterious Blue Army in a month, leading to too many things at the division and the Division Commander truly unable to free up time.
This time it wouldn’t be Chief of Staff Shi coming, but the Division Commander himself coming personally.
…
As the Chief of Staff arrived at the confrontation command center ready to spectate accompanied by Regiment Commander Wang, both Red and Blue sides also reached their designated positions.
Operations Section personnel forming the directing staff simultaneously announced exercise-related matters to both Red and Blue armies.
Both sides’ missions were very simple, even overly simple, not distinguishing assault company and reconnaissance company; both sides had the same mission.
That was whoever eliminates the opponent’s company headquarters first, that side wins the confrontation.
And explicitly told both Red and Blue sides which area on the map the opponent was in, letting both know where to go to find the opponent’s company headquarters.
The confrontation rules were few, adding up to just two.
First, no calling external aid; second, company headquarters cannot leave the planned area.
Steel Seventh Company assigned as Red Army, its company command post could only move within A051 area, with an area of about 3 by 3 kilometers.
Red Third Company assigned as Blue Army, its company command post could only stay within B186 area, similarly 3 by
Though the area was only 3 by 3 kilometers, as the bottom-level command unit, company headquarters fully counted just a few people, a few square kilometers could hold them.
To find targets each in a few square kilometers within 9 million square meters.
The difficulty was still very high!
Moreover, blanket search hard find definitely wouldn’t work; even the whole company of over a hundred couldn’t cover it, could only use tactical means and experience technology.
And that mysterious, unfathomable luck factor.
Besides company headquarters not leaving their respective areas, the company’s other personnel were completely unrestricted and could enter any range freely.
Even running back to the company to sleep was fine.
As long as you weren’t afraid of company headquarters being found by the opponent and easily taken out without protection.
Through the rules and mission announced by the directing staff, both Steel Seventh Company and Red Third Company immediately reacted to what the core of this confrontation military exercise was.
The core was protecting one’s own company command post from being found and eliminated by the opponent.
Then, on the basis of protecting one’s own, think of various methods to find the opponent’s company headquarters, then eliminate the opponent’s command post.
In other words…
Both Red and Blue sides needed not only attack capability, but also sufficient self-preservation capability.
After the directing staff announced the related rules and matters, the confrontation military exercise between Steel Seventh Company and Red Third Company officially began.
Exercise command center.
Limited by conditions and equipment, there were no 21st-century-style cameras and drones covering every corner of the exercise.
Leaders just needed to sit in the command center to see everything of both confrontation sides clearly.
Here there was only a military map hanging on the wall detailing both sides’ areas, and a sand table placed right in the middle of the command center.
Both the map and sand table now marked Red and Blue sides.
Because neither side had moved yet, Red and Blue each had only one point.
“Regiment Commander Wang, this Steel Seventh Company and Red Third Company are both your regiment’s main force companies; for their confrontation, I’m very curious who you favor more.”
The Chief of Staff held his cup and lightly sipped hot tea, his gaze meaningfully toward Regiment Commander Wang.
Regiment Commander Wang knew the Chief of Staff asking this definitely wanted to probe some information from him in advance, to use as basis for his judgment.
To watch a military exercise for the best experience and discover more value from it.
The first thing to do was to have immersion.
Only by fully immersing and being there in person could valuable information be discovered.
Immersion came from taking a stance in the heart, integrating oneself into one side, watching this confrontation exercise as if one were that side.
Just like watching a ball game, you have to pick a side to support to make it more exciting.
For the Chief of Staff to pick a side, he needed to know the basic information of both Red and Blue sides to make a judgment and select what he wanted most.
Of course.
Even if picking, it would only be in the heart, not said out loud supporting whom.
Regiment Commander Wang knew the Chief of Staff’s intention, so he didn’t hide it, first introducing Red Third Company’s positioning in 702 Regiment and past results.
Not much said, very concise.
Overall, a standard main force company with excellent performance and results in all aspects.
Steel Seventh Company as the absolute protagonist this time, 702 Regiment’s only hope for autonomous reorganization, Regiment Commander Wang’s introduction time more than doubled.
Starting from Steel Seventh Company’s history of nirvana rebirth, to its various excellent performances in the past, up to its current proactive modification for self-growth.
He spoke eloquently for no less than five minutes, almost praising Steel Seventh Company to the skies.
Both companies were flesh of his palm and back, yet Regiment Commander Wang’s introductions were worlds apart, not because he favored one, but because Steel Seventh Company’s synthesis was too important.
It not only related to 702 Regiment’s future, but also to Regiment Commander Wang’s future.
Regiment Commander Wang’s age was already not young; he was on the last train of his military career, with little time left to advance further.
Under Chen Jun’s strong performance and leadership, taking two firsts in the division grand competition.
Let Regiment Commander Wang have one foot in the division.
To get the other foot in too, completing the “great class” leap from regiment to division, Steel Seventh Company’s synthesized technology and experience was the best stepping stone.
Rising from regimental unit to divisional unit was like going from third-level non-commissioned officer to fourth-level non-commissioned officer.
Though only one level, there was a chasm in between.
Calling it one in a thousand wouldn’t be excessive!
Regiment Commander Wang’s age held no advantage at all; if he didn’t find a way to move up in these two years, high probability he’d turn civilian upon regiment term end.
Now was the start of Steel Seventh Company’s synthesis, and the confrontation was even the demon-reflecting mirror witnessing the authenticity of synthesis.
Publicly and privately, Regiment Commander Wang had no doubt he’d favor more, under the big military reform background, the higher-value Steel Seventh Company.
After hearing Regiment Commander Wang’s introduction, the Chief of Staff’s interest in Steel Seventh Company grew even stronger.
Not Steel Seventh Company itself.
But Steel Seventh Company’s current “combined arms tactics.”
Assuming Steel Seventh Company’s synthesized modification used “orthodox” combined arms tactics, not just hype borrowing the name.
Then the value Steel Seventh Company could bring to the division, even the influence on our army…
The Chief of Staff didn’t dare imagine!!
“Regiment Commander Wang, I can see you attach great importance to Steel Seventh Company’s modification this time, and have great confidence in its combat effectiveness, however…”
The Chief of Staff said half, then sharply turned: “But just talking big, paper talk is useless.
Whether Steel Seventh Company’s autonomous synthesized reorganization is real Sun Wukong or fake six-eared macaque, I think the answer will come out soon.”
“Then let’s wait and see.”
This confrontation was Steel Seventh Company’s debut after modification; Regiment Commander Wang had no references at all, no confidence in his heart, could only smile for now.
…
Blue Army company headquarters.
Upon learning the confrontation mission and rules, all company and platoon cadres of Red Third Company gathered together to discuss how to fight this battle.
“Comrades, Steel Seventh Company’s strength is very strong, this point needs no doubt; for us to take it down, we must make the fullest preparations, take the most positive attitude, and go all out to fight this battle well.”
He Hongtao as Third Company’s political instructor, opened by boosting morale.
After all, Steel Seventh Company’s strength in 702 Regiment, everyone in the regiment knew well, let alone last year’s competition where Steel Seventh Company’s performance was too dominant.
Even as fellow main force company, the competitive Third Company Commander wasn’t afraid of Steel Seventh Company.
But the platoon leaders and squad leaders below, and warriors whose mentality wasn’t steady, facing such a dominant Steel Seventh Company, had huge psychological pressure.
He Hongtao boosting morale first was indeed a very wise choice.
As expected of the most senior political instructor!
“The instructor is right; we do need to show attitude. Steel Seventh Company is also a main force company with good strength, however…”
Third Company Commander said half, tone turning: “But everyone don’t forget, Seventh Company is just a reconnaissance company; frontal warfare isn’t their strong suit.
This confrontation’s terrain best suits frontal war, and the mission requires frontal confrontation.
In frontal assault confrontation, our Red Third Company has huge advantage; Steel Seventh Company can’t compare to us at all, neither equipment nor tactics.
As long as we find suitable opportunity, formulate appropriate combat plan, taking down Steel Seventh Company isn’t hard.”
Third Company Commander’s confident words fully mobilized the company cadres’ positivity, no longer fearing Steel Seventh Company at all.
“As a reconnaissance company, Steel Seventh Company is stronger than us in searching and infiltration; I think we can defend in place of attack, wait for the hare to come to the stump, consume Steel Seventh Company’s troops, then counterattack in one go when timing ripens.”
Deputy Company Commander first proposed a tactical plan, going with more calm defense-counterattack tactics.
“Whether troops or equipment, we have more advantage over Steel Seventh Company; defending is too cowardly, I think better to push all troops directly, use our best assault operations to crush Steel Seventh Company frontally.”
Boosted by Third Company Commander and instructor, First Platoon Leader’s tactics were full of confidence.
“Seventh Company though armored reconnaissance company, but from my personal knowledge, after Seventh Company Commander took office, it’s always trained as assault company; in frontal assault operations, combat effectiveness likely not inferior to us.”
Deputy instructor hit the nail on the head, pointing out Steel Seventh Company’s true nature.
“Deputy instructor’s point, I’ve heard too, and company headquarters can’t leave B186 area; if we all push over leaving company headquarters alone here, what if Seventh Company sneaks over… I think it’s too risky.” Second Platoon Leader worried.
“Or first recon the terrain, occupy advantageous positions first, block all entry paths, not give Steel Seventh Company infiltration chance, then later decide attack or defense.”
Third Platoon Leader’s idea differed, mainly considering anti-infiltration, countering reconnaissance company’s strongest reconnaissance.
“Defense is too passive, easy to be led by the nose by enemy; modern warfare emphasizes initiative, only taking initiative first can seize first-mover advantage.”
“Seventh Company is reconnaissance company, best at concealment; so easy to find? Such a big area, what if whole company goes and can’t find?”
“Company headquarters is the core; all tactical plans must prioritize protecting company headquarters.”
…
Third Company’s platoon leaders and cadres chimed in one after another, voicing their views and insights, but Third Company Commander just listened on the side without speaking.
