Chapter 141: Crazy? Taking Down The Recon Battalion?
“What? Blue Army Third Company is completely gone?”
The directing staff fed the battle situation back to the command center. From the division commander down to the technician, no one dared to believe it. The ending turned out to be so dramatic.
They had thought of Steel Seventh Company ambush failure, being surrounded and annihilated by the reconnaissance company in the forest.
They had thought of the reconnaissance company seeing through Steel Seventh Company’s trick and not taking the road along the edge of the woods.
They had even thought of Reconnaissance Third Company falling into the trap, suffering certain losses from Steel Seventh Company’s ambush, and finally withdrawing from the ambush in time.
No one had thought of Reconnaissance Third Company being completely annihilated, and it took only a little over a minute from start to finish.
However, the facts were already laid out before them.
Whether it was the result of Reconnaissance Third Company being overconfident, underestimating the enemy due to carelessness, or because the exercise rules had a bug that Steel Seventh Company happened to exploit.
One thing could already be confirmed—
Steel Seventh Company was very strong!
Strong enough to subvert everyone’s common sense cognition!
War has no reasons to speak of. Whoever wins is the only truth. Steel Seventh Company being able to completely annihilate Blue Army Reconnaissance Third Company meant their strength was sufficient.
If they were even a little bit lacking in any aspect, this subversive result would be impossible.
Also because Steel Seventh Company completely annihilated Reconnaissance Third Company, the atmosphere that had previously been one-sidedly supporting the reconnaissance battalion underwent a subtle change.
Amid the ensuing uproar of discussion, different voices emerged.
“Being able to completely annihilate Reconnaissance Third Company in an extremely short time, perhaps this synthesis of Steel Seventh Company is not just hype.”
“I think it’s just taking advantage of an opportunity, finding a loophole in the confrontation exercise. On a real battlefield, could Red Army know in advance that Blue Army would keep chasing from behind? And know the opponent’s scale?”
“Right, Staff Officer Liu is right. If a battalion came chasing, Steel Seventh Company setting an ambush here would be sending themselves into the enemy’s mouth.”
“You can’t say that. I think Steel Seventh Company taking down Reconnaissance Third Company is enough proof that this synthesis is very effective, has this strength. Let’s look forward to Red Army Seventh Company’s performance next.”
“The real can’t be fake, the fake can’t be real. Whether Steel Seventh Company is lucky or strong, let the results speak.”
…
The division leaders chimed in one after another. Some began to support Steel Seventh Company, some thought it was taking advantage of an opportunity. For a moment, the discussion was heated.
And Steel Seventh Company, as the party involved, had already completed the post-battle cleanup at this moment.
Dozens of unscathed men all got into the vehicles and left dashingly under the extremely complex gazes of the Reconnaissance Third Company warriors who had become corpses.
“Platoon Leader Chen, what next? Go straight to the objective point?”
Having wiped out the arrogant Reconnaissance Third Company in minutes, Gao Cheng’s mood was now like the midday sun, exceptionally brilliant, his bones feeling a few ounces lighter.
Completely convinced by Chen Jun’s command ability, no longer having even a shred of doubt.
Successfully cutting off a third of the enemy’s combat effectiveness gave Gao Cheng confidence in this confrontation and placed all hope on Chen Jun.
So this time when setting off again, Gao Cheng specially called Chen Jun to his vehicle.
Not for anything else.
Just to facilitate exchange.
“Company Commander, the exercise requires taking two objective points. That’s our Steel Seventh Company’s way to win, but it’s not the only way to victory,” Chen Jun said.
“Oh? Not the only one?”
Gao Cheng’s interest was piqued. Knowing Chen Jun definitely had another idea, he said impatiently, “Speak, I know you have a better idea.”
It wasn’t that Gao Cheng wasn’t smart enough or his command ability was too poor to keep up with Chen Jun’s rhythm.
It was because Gao Cheng, like most officers in the regiment or even the division, had received the basic set of military theory and tactics.
This made their fundamentals very solid, while also constraining their imagination.
To put it bluntly.
Their thinking was relatively rigid.
The confrontation exercise required reconnoitering two objective points, so Gao Cheng’s tactical thinking was fixed on that, only thinking about how to take the two objective points.
But Chen Jun was from special operations after all. Special operations thinking needed to be more unconventional and diverse.
It was all about outsmarting terrorists. Using traditional playing style and ideas simply wouldn’t eliminate terrorists.
So the thinking was mainly about breaking conventions, being more unconventional, finding new paths to solve problems.
Therefore, Chen Jun had indeed taken advantage of an opportunity, exploiting a small bug in the confrontation exercise to know Blue Army’s movements and what they were going to do in advance, creating this classic ambush battle.
It was also after taking out Reconnaissance Third Company and realizing they weren’t as strong as he imagined.
Another idea sparked in Chen Jun’s mind.
That was to continue going against the grain, not playing by the rules with the reconnaissance battalion at all.
You all think I’ll try every means, using various methods to conceal, infiltrate, evade the reconnaissance battalion’s tracking, and complete reconnaissance of the objective points.
And based on that, start deploying layouts, creating all sorts of difficulties for Steel Seventh Company.
Then I’ll simply not go to the objective points.
Making all your layouts useless.
From a combat thinking perspective, make a big switch, from prey turning into hunter, using the mindset difference between enemy and us for a classic battle that subverts everyone.
Basically having a rough combat idea, there was still time to formulate the combat plan.
Facing the interested Gao Cheng, Chen Jun explained his idea and thinking, the reasons for doing so, the probability of success of the plan, and so on.
“Wipe out the entire reconnaissance battalion??”
After hearing Chen Jun’s new plan, even the usually fearless Gao Cheng was startled, his voice uncontrollably changing pitch.
“Yes, as long as we wipe out the entire reconnaissance battalion, the objective points aren’t ours to reconnoiter at will? Though there’s some adventure, war is adventure itself. There’s never absolute victory or defeat. As long as the win rate is fifty percent, it already has the foundation for execution.”
Chen Jun didn’t have absolute certainty of victory, but that didn’t stop him from having absolute confidence.
“Platoon Leader Chen, I believe with your ability, this combat plan is definitely not reckless. But the reconnaissance battalion has suffered a loss once; they’ll definitely be more cautious later. Wanting to ambush them again probably won’t be that easy,” Gao Cheng said seriously.
“War is about flexibility and change. The Art of War even has the Thirty-Six Stratagems. Ambush combat is just one; there are plenty of other methods,” Chen Jun laughed.
“You’re right. We can’t win head-on, so we can only fight guerrilla warfare with them. There are many tactics to use. But are you sure the reconnaissance battalion will take the bait again?”
Gao Cheng worried the reconnaissance battalion would learn from the lesson and not be easy to deal with.
Reconnaissance Third Company had lost due to underestimating the enemy, thinking their strength was much superior and not taking the grassroots Steel Seventh Company seriously, so they lost so badly.
With the lesson of Reconnaissance Third Company being annihilated.
As long as the reconnaissance battalion commander wasn’t an idiot, he’d be extra vigilant in special areas next.
Gao Cheng’s worry wasn’t superfluous.
“All’s fair in war. Even a good swimmer can cramp and choke. If one stratagem fails, try another. I have plenty in my belly.”
Chen Jun smiled confidently, then added: “Moreover, sometimes changing your thinking changes the world.
In everyone’s eyes, this confrontation is a cat-and-mouse game. We’re the mouse being caught, and the reconnaissance battalion is the formidable cat.
But if we switch our thinking, we’re actually the cat’s owner, holding the rope leading it.
The reconnaissance battalion needs to take us out to win, so they’re destined to be led by the nose by us. We’re the owners walking ahead holding the rope.
As long as we expand from this core point, we have many ways to take out the reconnaissance battalion.”
Chen Jun’s starting angle was indeed very unique, especially comparing Steel Seventh Company to the cat owner and the reconnaissance battalion to the cat led by the nose.
Gao Cheng’s previously rigid mindset was instantly opened by Chen Jun’s words.
Turn guest into host.
Suddenly, everything became clear!
No more previous worries. Thinking of turning from serf to singing, Gao Cheng couldn’t suppress his excitement and immediately flattered: “Great idea of being the owner leading the cat. Why didn’t I think of that.
Platoon Leader Chen, as long as you think it’s feasible, let’s do it. I support you unconditionally. Even if we lose the confrontation in the end, I won’t have any complaints.”
A change in mindset widens the world.
Gao Cheng was thoroughly convinced by Chen Jun and decided to go all in with him.
“Company Commander, as long as I’m here, losing is absolutely impossible. Even in the worst situation, we’ll drag them down with us, hehe.”
A faint smile rose at the corner of Chen Jun’s mouth, but it made Gao Cheng see a ruthless edge.
This was also the first time Gao Cheng felt a heart-palpitating ruthlessness from Chen Jun, inwardly exclaiming: “This Chen Jun is young, but has plenty in his belly. Most importantly, his methods are ruthless enough.
His future development will definitely be remarkable. I need to hold onto him tight, can’t let others snatch him away.”
Gao Cheng was secretly shocked by Chen Jun’s talent, then asked eagerly: “The reconnaissance battalion still has two companies left. Which one do we take first?”
Having just taken out one company of the reconnaissance battalion, now eyeing the other two.
The more Gao Cheng thought, the more excited he got, already impatient.
“No no no, we don’t target any of their companies. Now’s not the time to strike. Blue Army has more troops; we absolutely can’t clash head-on with them.”
Chen Jun waved his hand, then analyzed: “Now without Reconnaissance Third Company’s tracking, the reconnaissance battalion has lost our trail and can’t follow the scent anymore, but this is only temporary.
In the next period, the reconnaissance battalion will definitely try every means to find us.
The terrain here isn’t conducive to concealment. No matter where we go, we’ll leave vehicle tracks; the tread marks are hard to clean up.
Though the training ground is large enough, for highly mobile mechanized troops, it’s just half a day from one end to the other.
So, shortest three hours, longest no more than five, the reconnaissance battalion will find our tracks. Then they’ll stick to us like maggots on bone, chasing us everywhere, wearing us out.
Setting an ambush on the road has been used once. Even if the reconnaissance battalion continues tailing, we absolutely can’t use it again. They’re not fools; repeating the trick would make us the fools.”
Chen Jun had been so assertive earlier, talking about wiping out the reconnaissance battalion at every turn.
Now his style did a one hundred and eighty degrees turn, suddenly portraying themselves as very passive, leaving Gao Cheng a bit unable to follow.
He smiled wryly and helplessly: “Can’t fight head-on, can’t run away, and can’t set ambushes anymore. So how do we do it?”
“Don’t worry, I have a clever plan.”
Chen Jun was confident, almost like Zhuge Liang lightly fanning himself, smiling: “Company against company head-on, we definitely can’t fight that.
Even if we could win, there’d be huge losses.
The reconnaissance battalion can afford losses because they have another company watching covetously, ready to attack us anytime, while we have no reinforcements.
But if it becomes company against platoon, or even squad, it’s completely different.
I’m confident that with minimal cost, or even no cost, I can take them out, consuming them platoon by squad slowly until they’re exhausted.”
“Using superior numbers to nibble away slowly, that’s a good method.”
Gao Cheng agreed with Chen Jun’s tactics, but had a doubt, so he asked: “The reconnaissance battalion isn’t stupid. How could they possibly send just one platoon, or even one squad, to grind us down slowly?”
Anyone with a bit of common sense wouldn’t send a platoon to attack a company.
The reconnaissance battalion commander certainly wouldn’t!
“The reconnaissance battalion commander definitely isn’t stupid; he won’t do that. But I can make him have to disperse his troops.”
Chen Jun, though only in his twenties, now showed the smile of an old fox.
“Haha, I knew it. You daring to say that means you have an idea. Quick, tell me, what ghost idea—no, clever trick do you have.” Gao Cheng asked excitedly and impatiently.
The suspense Chen Jun had built was huge and deep.
Not just Gao Cheng was anxious.
Even the driver was drawn in, quietly perking up his ears to listen.
“The method is simple but very practical.”
Chen Jun took out the exercise area map, pointing to a junction: “We’re the ones holding the rope, so we must play to its advantage.
Drive 12 kilometers southeast to this road junction. There are six routes here, leading different directions.
My idea is, upon arrival, we split into six groups heading six directions.
This is closer to Reconnaissance First Company’s position. They’ll definitely find our vehicle tracks further, but when they see tracks in six directions, do they have a choice?”
Chen Jun stopped here, a familiar confident smile floating on his lips.
“Brilliant, simply brilliant.”
Gao Cheng instantly understood Chen Jun’s tactic, slapping his thigh excitedly: “They have no choice. To find us, they can only split into six groups.
This way, Reconnaissance First Company is forced to divide into six squad or platoon units. Our opportunity has come.”
But just as he spoke, Gao Cheng frowned, spotting the biggest problem: “Reconnaissance First Company splits up, but so do we. Doesn’t that go back to the old way, becoming squad or platoon battles?
We still have no advantage!!”
