Chapter 148: Please Begin Your Performance
Regiment Commander Wang dropped a bombshell, leaving all the division cadres stunned and disoriented.
“Red Army was really too reckless. Even if they won a few local battles, they shouldn’t have let victory go to their heads and made such a terrible choice.”
“Yes, that’s right. Although Blue Army’s troops are less than half of what they started with, their position is more advantageous, and they have already built initial defensive fortifications. They are waiting at ease for the exhausted enemy, and their advantage is still very large.”
“It’s a situation where victory was already in their grasp, yet they chose to put themselves in danger. It’s not worth it, really not worth it.”
…
The division’s cadres overwhelmingly did not look favorably on it—not that they didn’t look favorably on Steel Seventh Company, thinking Steel Seventh Company would definitely lose, but they didn’t look favorably on the decision Steel Seventh Company made.
And their words were very aggressive!
The reason for such a strong reaction was partly because Steel Seventh Company clearly had a much simpler method to easily win this confrontation, yet they chose the harder way instead.
And it was the hardest path.
The main reason was still the huge contrast between before and after, which was so great that it didn’t feel real.
Before the confrontation exercise began, Red Army was the side in absolute disadvantage, only able to be chased all over the world by Blue Army.
In just one day’s time, it had completely turned around 180 degrees.
Red Army, which was originally chased everywhere by Blue Army, was not only chasing Blue Army everywhere now, but that wasn’t enough—they wanted to completely annihilate Blue Army before stopping.
Under the influence of preconceived notions, everyone’s idea was that winning was good enough, win as soon as possible.
Like grasping at a lifesaver.
Regardless of whether this straw could save them, grab it first.
Completely forgetting that the initiative was now in Steel Seventh Company’s hands, how the game was played was no longer up to Blue Army, and Steel Seventh Company had no need to be so hasty.
This confrontation exercise was essentially a “performance match.”
From Steel Seventh Company’s perspective, the core was not how to win quickly, but how to make the performance more exciting while winning.
Looking at the whole audience, besides the division commander who was oblivious, only Regiment Commander Wang thought of this point.
Facing the unanimous opposition from the whole audience, Regiment Commander Wang’s protective instinct was aroused, and he stood up to retort: “The core of war is indeed winning first, with everything serving that word.
Whether it’s training or exercises, it’s the same—win victory at the smallest cost.
But, you seem to have forgotten that this confrontation is actually just a performance. Is victory or defeat really that important? No, not that important.
Whether Steel Seventh Company’s synthesis is successful, which aspects are worth recognizing, which need improvement, whether it meets the standards of informatization reform.
These are what matter.
So, I think Steel Seventh Company assembling all troops to press straight against Blue Army, showing more tactics and playing styles, allows us to understand Steel Seventh Company better.
Not only is it not a foolish move, on the contrary, it’s the wise choice.”
Regiment Commander Wang’s analysis was very on point, especially in clearly pointing out the core of the confrontation exercise, making everyone suddenly react.
“Regiment Commander Wang, you really understand your troops. We were too focused on victory or defeat, thinking from the wrong angle, and ended up being superficial, haha.”
The chief of staff acknowledged Regiment Commander Wang’s analysis, and with a few words, changed the atmosphere on site.
Shifting everyone from not looking favorably on Red Army before to anticipating that Red Army could show more playing styles, allowing everyone to broaden their horizons again.
So, what playing style would Steel Seventh Company use to win in a frontal battle against Blue Army?
Everyone was curious!
Meanwhile, Steel Seventh Company was still on the road. Anyway, with Fourth Squad scouting ahead, they weren’t afraid of losing the target and weren’t in a hurry to accelerate.
And there were three days to complete the mission; it was only the afternoon of the first day, with plenty of time left.
More than an hour passed quickly.
In the evening when the sunset hung in the sky, Fourth Squad finally sent back definite news.
“Report Steel Factory, Blue Army Battalion Headquarters spotted. They have entered the pass, where Blue Army is providing support. To avoid detection, we didn’t get too close and couldn’t confirm if it’s Blue Army Second Company personnel, over.”
“Steel Factory received, conceal in place and wait for us to rendezvous, over.”
After issuing the order to Fourth Squad, Gao Cheng slightly turned his head to ask Chen Jun sitting in the back: “Platoon Leader Chen, we’ve found Blue Army. Do we launch a surprise attack directly, or…?”
“Company Commander, we’ve finally caught up, so we definitely have to give them a meeting gift first, right?”
Chen Jun chuckled, then continued: “It’s now 5:25 p.m., about half an hour until dark.
To minimize our company’s losses and leverage our company’s firepower advantage, the full assault is best at night.
However, in this half hour before nightfall, under the sunset after the rain, people will feel particularly lazy, with lower vigilance than usual.
We can take advantage of this time to send them a grand meeting gift.
Have Reconnaissance Squad advance, identify the detailed troop deployment at Reconnaissance Battalion Headquarters, report coordinates to Firepower Platoon, and give them two volleys to whet their appetite.
Target their combat vehicles, try to destroy their vehicles in one wave, depriving them of mobility.
As long as Blue Army can’t drive away, they’ll be pinned there unable to move, and then we can play slowly.”
Chen Jun’s idea of not hitting people first but hitting vehicles to paralyze Blue Army’s mobility was indeed a good one.
Gao Cheng fully approved!
He then conveyed Chen Jun’s suggestion as orders to each squad, turning the suggestion into a combat plan for immediate execution upon arrival.
Ten minutes later.
Steel Seventh Company’s personnel arrived behind Fourth Squad and stopped 300 meters from Blue Army. Chen Jun got off to link up with Fourth Squad and began deployment.
Fourth Squad, which had been scouting ahead, pulled back, and Shi Jin led Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad to take over.
In terms of reconnaissance and intelligence gathering ability, Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad was much stronger than Sniper Squad. For not exposing themselves, professional tasks should naturally be handled by professionals.
The withdrawn Fourth Squad wasn’t idle either; Chen Jun assigned them to scout around Blue Army’s position and identify all the sentries Blue Army had set up.
Just locate their positions, no need to take them out.
It wasn’t time yet!
Under Third Platoon Leader’s lead, Firepower Platoon detached to find a suitable artillery position nearby.
First Squad’s task was to find a nearby spot quickly and set up company headquarters for upcoming and nighttime assault communications.
Sixth Squad was responsible for helping First Squad!
Second Squad was responsible for vigilance near company headquarters, reporting any suspicious situations immediately.
As the main firepower output anti-tank squad that had been running all over, they were the most tired squad in the company; Chen Jun arranged for them to rest in place first.
After assigning tasks to each squad, Chen Jun went to rendezvous with Shi Jin.
“Squad Leader Shi, what’s the situation now?”
Chen Jun lay down next to Shi Jin, picked up binoculars, observed while asking.
“Platoon Leader, we’ve split into four reconnaissance teams. Wu Liu Yi took people to the rear, Cheng Cai and San Duo are there, Gan Xiao Ning and Tie Jun are there; they haven’t returned yet, so the situation isn’t very clear temporarily.” Shi Jin pointed as he spoke.
Steel Seventh Company only had squad-level communications, not individual soldier communications yet, so the other three teams’ situations could only be known when they returned.
“Alright, then we’ll wait.”
Chen Jun picked up binoculars himself, covered it with a self-made anti-glare hood from mosquito net cloth, slightly exposing the front, and looked toward Blue Army’s position.
To facilitate or enhance combat effectiveness, Chen Jun had made many small inventions in Steel Seventh Company.
The anti-glare hood was just one of them!
When Chen Jun first made this thing, the whole company including Gao Cheng didn’t know what it was for. When they learned it was to cover binoculars and telescopic sights, everyone laughed, thinking Chen Jun was joking.
Covering a cloth in front of the telescopic sight—wouldn’t that make everything invisible?
The result.
When Chen Jun made the anti-glare hood, installed it on the telescopic sight, let everyone try it hands-on, and explained its actual function.
Everyone in the company had the same reaction: it was magical like magic.
Especially Sniper Squad, that was two words.
Really great!!
…
After observing for a few minutes, Chen Jun found that the scale of Blue Army opposite was smaller than he imagined, seemingly just one platoon.
But the position they chose was quite tricky, right on the reverse slope beside a must-pass road.
If they set up two or three rocket launchers there, with troops from the hills on both sides, one platoon could hold it.
If Red Army accidentally ran into it, they’d lose at least one or two squads there.
If the firepower was even fiercer, reaching Steel Seventh Company’s level, even with quick reaction, they’d probably lose half a company.
Finding such a good position for deployment showed Blue Army Company had some real skills.
“They’re pretty well concealed too. If not for Fourth Squad following Battalion Headquarters here, if we had to find this Blue Army ourselves, we probably wouldn’t have.” Chen Jun observed while joking.
“Platoon Leader, they seem to have just one platoon, plus Battalion Headquarters. Where are the rest?” Shi Jin asked puzzled.
“Blue Army now has only one company left. To prevent us from infiltrating, they’re probably ambushing us elsewhere, waiting for us to walk into the trap.” Chen Jun guessed.
“They’ve dispersed? One platoon per spot—that’s giving us an opportunity?” Shi Jin said happily.
“It’s an opportunity, but also not.”
Chen Jun’s words were very profound; an honest person like Shi Jin couldn’t understand at all and could only scratch his head: “Platoon Leader, what do you mean?”
“One Blue Army platoon poses no challenge to us, so yes, it’s an opportunity. But we didn’t come here specifically to fight kids; we want to perform a big show for the higher-ups.”
As Chen Jun spoke, he pointed his index finger upward.
“If we can’t take on Blue Army’s whole company, it has no meaning at all—that’s no opportunity; better to just complete the mission directly in the northeast direction.”
“Oh, I get it.”
Shi Jin said thoughtfully: “Platoon Leader means we want a head-on fight with Blue Army, to let the division know our assault capability.”
“Yeah, that’s roughly the idea.”
Although Shi Jin’s summary wasn’t very precise, Chen Jun didn’t explain in detail because Shi Jin didn’t need to know that clearly.
As the backbone connecting soldiers and officers, a squad leader just needs to know what to do and lead the warriors to get it done.
As for why do it that way, the value and meaning of doing it that way.
That’s not a squad leader’s duty!
As Chen Jun and Shi Jin observed and chatted, nearly ten minutes passed quickly, and the three dispatched reconnaissance teams returned one after another.
Combining intelligence from Cheng Cai, Gan Xiao Ning, and Wu Liu Yi, Blue Army’s situation was basically clear.
Chen Jun brought the intelligence back to company headquarters, which was made by covering a gully with camouflage cloth and transplanting some weeds on top.
He reported to Gao Cheng: “Company Commander, we’ve clarified Blue Army’s situation.
Blue Army at the front intersection is just one platoon, plus Battalion Headquarters and one squad protecting it, total troops around forty.
Three Type 86 infantry fighting vehicles, one Type 89 armored personnel carrier, one 212 military vehicle.
Based on infantry fighting vehicle squad configuration, individual soldier firepower estimated at two to three 40-fire, one to two sniper teams, one portable anti-air.
The rest are regular scouts, probably similar to our old configuration.”
Type 86 infantry fighting vehicles come standard with one 40-fire in the compartment, equipped with three rockets as backup.
Equivalent to each regular infantry fighting vehicle squad having one rocket launcher as heavy firepower.
Stronger firepower than Type 63 personnel carriers!
Before Steel Seventh Company’s synthesized modification, the three infantry fighting vehicle squads all had 40 rocket launchers; after modification, they were centralized into Anti-tank Squad.
And since infantry fighting vehicles were given to Firepower Platoon, no need for rocket launchers and ammunition inside.
So Steel Seventh Company’s infantry fighting vehicles have no 40-fire, and all removable internal parts were dismantled to make space for 100mm mortar shells.
“Just one platoon opposite? Us a whole company hitting them would be too uninteresting; do we even need to fight? We can take them casually?”
Gao Cheng had prepared for a big battle, but found the enemy was just one platoon with no big battle to fight, and his mood soured instantly.
“Company Commander, I also think it’s no fun; taking them down wouldn’t show any effect, so…”
Chen Jun grinned, showing two rows of white teeth, and said teasingly: “We can use the surround-the-point-without-attacking stratagem, use this platoon as bait to lure their other two platoons here for support.”
“Good method, but… can we control the situation then?” Gao Cheng frowned.
“Don’t worry, Company Commander, no problem.”
Chen Jun was full of confidence, clenched his fist and said: “The situation has changed now; the initiative is in our hands, how the game is played is up to us now.
Whether Blue Army wants to or not, they can only cooperate with our performance, become our supporting characters, no choice.”
“Haha.”
Gao Cheng laughed heartily: “Platoon Leader Chen, with your words, it’s enough. Time’s about right too; the rest is yours. Please start your performance.”
