Chapter 132: Catch A Big Fish Right Upon Arrival!
The Third Company Commander listened to everyone’s discussion for half a day, and he basically had a good idea in his mind.
Having a strong personality doesn’t mean acting recklessly and impulsively; the Third Company Commander’s military style was the complete opposite, belonging to the kind that leaned more toward seeking stability.
Among the details discussed by the company cadres, there were two points he highly approved of.
First, given his familiarity with Gao Cheng, the Third Company Commander knew very well that Gao Cheng’s personality was very straightforward and he couldn’t do anything devious.
This led to his combat style being bold and sweeping, more inclined toward crushing the enemy head-on.
While Steel Seventh Company was a reconnaissance company, focusing on enemy rear reconnaissance infiltration and insertion, requiring slippery maneuvers like a loach, which completely mismatched Gao Cheng’s personality.
So Steel Seventh Company under Gao Cheng’s command had always been trained as an assault company.
This meant Steel Seventh Company’s frontal combat ability was definitely much stronger than a regular reconnaissance company, so Red Third Company advancing with the entire company might not gain any advantage.
The path of Third Company proactively crossing the line to strike out probably wouldn’t be as easy as the platoon leader thought.
Second, Steel Seventh Company as the regiment’s only reconnaissance company, even if Gao Cheng stubbornly trained it as an assault company, still had a certain level of reconnaissance proficiency.
After all, among the regiment’s assessment indicators for the reconnaissance company, many were subjects that a reconnaissance company must master.
A reconnaissance company focusing on assault tactics.
This sounded extremely strange, yet it was the reality of Steel Seventh Company before Chen Jun arrived.
If Red Third Company really launched a full-company cross-line attack, Steel Seventh Company with reconnaissance company-related skills would very likely infiltrate into Red Third Company’s rear.
The company headquarters without company protection might very well be taken out in one fell swoop.
Out of these concerns and considerations, Third Company Commander Huang Yang ultimately decided that for this confrontation’s combat plan, they would still adopt a steady win-through-counterattack strategy of defense turning into offense.
First, send out several squads to identify the key passes, deploy armored troops to hold each key pass.
Then have the company headquarters stay securely in the rear.
Dispatch the remaining troops, ready for combat anytime and anywhere.
Finally, once Steel Seventh Company’s troops are spotted, leverage terrain and equipment advantages to immediately launch annihilation, completely wiping out the intruding Steel Seventh Company troops.
Through this defensive counterattack method, continuously weakening Steel Seventh Company’s troops.
Boiling a frog in warm water, slowly grinding down Steel Seventh Company.
Red Third Company was equipped with six Type 86 infantry fighting vehicles, exactly twice as many as Steel Seventh Company, with rocket launchers in every squad, also several times more than Steel Seventh Company.
When both sides’ troop numbers were roughly equal, Red Third Company with absolute equipment superiority was completely unafraid of Steel Seventh Company in a frontal clash.
As long as it was frontal combat, the Third Company Commander had sufficient confidence.
Even if Steel Seventh Company’s martial arts competition results were ever so good, on the actual battlefield in a head-on clash, the Third Company Commander believed his led Red Third Company could beat Steel Seventh Company into throwing down helmets and armor.
……
After Red Third Company’s entire backbone discussed for over half a day, they devised a defensive counterattack tactic.
By blocking all the key passes in B186 area, turning B186 area into a big dragnet, just waiting for Steel Seventh Company to walk right into it.
On the other side, Steel Seventh Company as the opponent reacted completely opposite to Red Third Company.
Not only was there no tactical discussion at all, they had already launched into action long ago.
The confrontation military exercise arose for Steel Seventh Company; Steel Seventh Company needed to prove itself through this confrontation, demonstrating that the synthesized company had real strength, not just superficial show.
This left Steel Seventh Company no choice but to attack; they had only one path—
That was offense!!
Not just any offense, but a sharp, brilliant one to handsomely win this confrontation.
If it was just a hard-fought narrow victory with great effort, or a victory through unremarkable traditional combat, rather than a crushing victory from tactical superiority.
It would be utterly insufficient to convince the leaders that Steel Seventh Company after synthesized modification truly possessed the strength a combined arms company should have, making superior leaders convinced.
Agreeing to let the combined arms company take root would become a pipe dream.
Since there was no second path to take, there was nothing left to discuss.
Pull out combined arms tactics and just execute.
In the months following the synthesized modification, every squad in Steel Seventh Company had undergone various combat simulation training, sufficient to handle most enemy situations.
Even though this was their first real battle, they had ample experience to apply.
However.
To maximize displaying combined arms tactics and minimize the probability of errors.
Chen Jun did not sit in the rear with company headquarters; instead, he transformed into a frontline combatant, combining command and combat, personally leading the vanguard reconnaissance squad charging toward Red Third Company.
Except for Second Platoon’s Second Squad responsible for protecting company headquarters, and First Squad responsible for following company headquarters to ensure logistics.
Second Platoon and Third Platoon were fully deployed, one left and one right following behind Third Squad on both sides, forming a “V-shaped” tactical formation with the vanguard reconnaissance squad ahead.
With the reconnaissance squad scouting enemy situations ahead, the firepower platoon and tactical platoon would be very safe.
With firepower platoon and tactical platoon closely following, ready anytime to provide powerful firepower support and various tactical maneuver support.
The reconnaissance squad ahead similarly had full confidence, no need to shrink back or hesitate.
The three were separate independent units, yet in combat they maintained close contact at all times, and could help each other anytime.
Emphasizing one core, yet each being a core,
This was the advantage of combined arms tactics!
The combined arms company as the most basic synthesized unit primarily emphasized coordination between units; at this stage, demands for equipment and technology were not high.
If reaching combined arms battalion or above, combat units would increase geometrically, and combat scope would be broader.
The broader the combat scope, the more combat units.
Communication would become more complex and difficult.
Still relying on walkie-talkies and individual radios for communication as now would obviously not work then, failing to meet combat demands.
So in Chen Jun’s Steel Seventh Company evolution outline, there was the creation of an exclusive informatized command system for combined arms units.
Planned to start preparation from combined arms battalion, and go online for use when combined arms regiment is formed.
……
Under the full offensive plan’s push, over seventy percent of Steel Seventh Company’s troops had been committed to the offense, with defense relatively weak.
To ensure company headquarters wouldn’t be “stolen,” Chen Jun used a very special method.
That was to position company headquarters as far away as possible, directly arranging transfer to the southwest corner of A051 area, concealed right against the area edge.
Even if Red Third Company fish slipped through the net, finding company headquarters would take a long time.
Meanwhile, Chen Jun’s side would sustain the offense, with powerful offensive momentum continuously pressuring Red Third Company, leaving no hand free to search for Seventh Company’s company headquarters.
Even if they sent a small team to search for Seventh Company, their speed definitely wouldn’t match his.
Emphasizing the best defense is offense.
Gao Cheng had preliminary understanding of combined arms operations but was far from mature and proficient; he and the warriors similarly needed learning and progress.
So facing this key assessment confrontation, Gao Cheng did not pretend to be fat.
Instead, he chose to delegate authority!
Handing all company command authority to Chen Jun, letting him direct all squads and platoons in the company, and no need for his approval before issuing orders.
Gao Cheng’s open-minded combat thinking allowed Chen Jun to act freely without constraints.
Chen Jun’s tactics became even more aggressive!
Under the implementation of time is life, the vanguard reconnaissance squad was like a real sharp knife, thrusting horizontally from A051 area straight into B186 area.
Straightforward without any detours, the offensive momentum surging and passionate.
From Steel Seventh Company’s starting point to the center line between both sides, the vanguard reconnaissance squad riding the personnel carrier moved at extreme speed; three kilometers took just over five minutes.
When still three hundred meters from the center line, Chen Jun suddenly ordered the entire squad to dismount and switch to marching on foot.
The personnel carrier found a spot behind an earth ridge on the spot, parked right against the ridge edge, then camouflaged with camouflage cloth plus nearby bushes and weeds.
The ten warriors, led by Chen Jun, selected concealed terrain and advanced on foot.
“Report Steel Factory, this is Sharp Knife, we have reached 300 meters from center line, now switching to foot march for infiltration, no enemy situation detected temporarily, over.”
Chen Jun used the individual radio on Shi Jin’s back to dynamically report to Gao Cheng in the rear.
Although Gao Cheng had handed command authority to Chen Jun and all actions needed no report to him, Chen Jun had the obligation to report his dynamics to company headquarters at any time.
All units’ dynamics collected at company headquarters allowed Company Commander Gao Cheng to adjust deployments anytime.
“Steel Factory received, proceed as per original plan, over.”
Gao Cheng’s reply was very straightforward, very principled, not interfering in Chen Jun’s actions.
“Everyone, fast trot forward.”
Chen Jun stowed the microphone back into the individual radio, issued the order, and began moving forward.
“Platoon Leader Chen, why not ride the vehicle? Riding is so fast, finding people is fast too; walking is too slow, finding Third Company’s headquarters would tire us to death.”
Gan Xiao Ning trotted with the team, not at all affecting his nonstop chattering complaints.
“Drive there? You think all of Red Third Company’s people are blind? Can’t see the dust kicked up behind the vehicle?” Cheng Cai had the expression of looking at an idiot.
“True, driving is fast, but delivering ourselves is faster; zoom right past and get wrapped into dumplings by Third Company, show over.”
Bai Tie Jun was short and thin, looking very honest, but in reality his mouth was the most poisonous, more sarcastic than anyone when roasting.
“All day knowing only to slack off; if this confrontation screws up, see if I don’t skin you all.” Wu Liu Yi sternly scolded.
“Squad Deputy, I support you, skin him, I’ll assist.” Bai Tie Jun laughed cheekily.
“Enough, get serious.”
Seeing his subordinates not serious at this time, Shi Jin had to interrupt, then asked caringly: “Sanduo, can you carry it? If not, give some to me, that’ll lighten your load.”
“No need, Squad Leader, I can; even more I could carry.”
Xu Sanduo rejected Shi Jin’s kindness, grinning to reveal his big shiny white teeth; from his expression, it was clear his mood was very excited now.
And it was indeed worth being excited!
Transferred to Steel Seventh Company over five months ago, Xu Sanduo had been assigned to the cookhouse for over five months of duty, peeling thousands of pounds of potatoes.
Now finally able to train with Third Squad, and even “entrusted with heavy responsibility”—
Human pack horse.
Camouflage cloth, rations, medical kit, climbing rope, night vision goggles, and various other tactical equipment and supplies, all handed to Xu Sanduo to carry.
Plus Xu Sanduo’s own personal supplies, totaling over fifty pounds.
Others’ weapons plus personal supplies totaled less than twenty pounds; Xu Sanduo’s load was more than twice everyone else’s, no wonder Shi Jin was worried.
“Alright, you carry first; if you can’t hold on, tell me anytime.”
Shi Jin knew this was Chen Jun’s test for Xu Sanduo, since it was Chen Jun who let Xu Sanduo participate in the confrontation, and Chen Jun who made Xu Sanduo carry these things.
Thinking Xu Sanduo’s duty career hadn’t ended yet, still far from returning to normal training.
He said no more.
Chen Jun noticed the two’s conversation and was satisfied that Xu Sanduo wasn’t slacking.
The team continuously approached the center line amid the chatting.
“Alright, halt.”
With only one hundred fifty meters left to the center line, Chen Jun ordered the team to stop, then arranged: “Wu Liu Yi, ahead is the center line; drop your backpack, call a helper, double-time ahead to scout the point first.”
“Yes.”
Wu Liu Yi dropped his backpack while calling: “Xie Chong, drop your backpack, come with me.”
“Yes.”
The called Xie Chong immediately responded, quickly set down his backpack, switched to light load, and ran off following Wu Liu Yi.
Xie Chong was also a member of the original martial arts competition team; though his running wasn’t as good as Wu Liu Yi and Chen Jun, his personal strength was actually very strong.
Not to mention other grassroots companies.
Even in the powerhouse Steel Seventh Company, he was still first echelon.
With his strength and ability, he was fully qualified as an assault soldier in the vanguard reconnaissance squad.
Paired with Wu Liu Yi the speedy machine gunner, the frontline reconnaissance team they formed was absolutely top-tier; Chen Jun could completely trust them.
“Everyone else, rest in place.”
After Wu Liu Yi and Xie Chong ran off, Chen Jun led the team to the earth ridge on the left.
Plateau terrain was full of exposed loess everywhere; even vegetation was sparse grass and shrubs, far less concealed than mountainous terrain.
Without knowing the center line situation or whether Red Third Company also drove along the center line.
Fewer people appearing meant less likely to be exposed.
Wu Liu Yi and Xie Chong single-handedly held guns, running forward boldly, quickly covering over one hundred meters, then switching to crouched leaps for the last dozens of meters.
Though the loess plateau lacked dense vegetation, the terrain was very undulating.
Moreover, due to soil erosion, many places were carved by water flows into various gullies and earth ridges, with field of vision not extending far.
Wu Liu Yi and Xie Chong could only proceed cautiously, picking through gullies and earth ridges.
All the way still calm and uneventful.
Wu Liu Yi and Xie Chong reached the center line, carefully observed, found no anomalies.
Then walked left about twenty meters to a small dirt slope top, observed with binoculars for a moment, saw no rising dust dragon.
This meant no vehicles driving nearby!
“Calling Squad Leader, this is Wu Liu Yi, no Blue Army sighted, no anomalies detected, over.” Wu Liu Yi reported via walkie-talkie.
This reporting style differed from company-platoon reports, more like special forces team mode.
And this was what Chen Jun taught.
“Wait, Squad Deputy, look there.”
Just the next second after Wu Liu Yi finished reporting, Xie Chong suddenly pointed toward the 11 o’clock direction.
Wu Liu Yi looked in the finger’s direction and indeed sensed something off there; taking binoculars for a close look, his eyebrow immediately raised.
Atop a small hillside about 300 meters away, faint dust was rising.
This meant vehicles were driving there, and heading toward Wu Liu Yi’s side, so the dust would grow higher and more visible.
“This is a military restricted area, impossible for local vehicles; coming must be Red Third Company people. Didn’t expect us just arriving to catch fish delivered to our door.”
Trained half a year waiting for this moment, Xie Chong’s face flushed with excitement.
