Chapter 157: Code Name: Operation Sword 1997
“Beep beep beep beep……”
“Entire company assemble at the large parade ground.”
The Third Platoon Leader blew his whistle to issue the order, and all the warriors of the company rushed out from their various squad dormitories, assembling in front of the red flag at the large parade ground in the back.
He discovered that the three major persons in charge of the company had already arrived ahead of them.
The military chief officer Gao Cheng had a brilliant smile on his face, with two kraft paper document bags tucked under his armpits, while the political officer Hong Xingguo and “Chief Instructor” Chen Jun stood on either side.
“Report to the Company Commander, the entire company has assembled. Ninety-nine should be present, ninety-five actually present, two on guard duty, clerk and communicator on duty. Awaiting instructions.” The Third Platoon Leader saluted and reported.
“At ease.”
Gao Cheng returned the salute and ordered.
“Yes.”
The Third Platoon Leader saluted, turned around to issue the at ease command, and goose-stepped to the front of the formation to take his place.
“Everyone has been working hard lately, put in a lot of effort, and performed well. Today, I’ve assembled everyone here mainly to announce two things, two pieces of great news……”
Gao Cheng was in an extremely good mood at this moment, his voice especially resonant as he spoke.
First, he took out Chen Jun’s appointment order and announced to everyone in front of the entire company that Chen Jun had been promoted to Deputy Company Commander, becoming a member of the company Party branch.
Chen Jun’s prestige in the company was already at its peak, and his promotion to Deputy Company Commander was a natural progression.
All the warriors of the company, upon hearing this good news, were very excited and gave Chen Jun thunderous applause in congratulations, the clapping so loud it pierced the skies.
From this moment on……
Chen Platoon Leader became a thing of the past, and Deputy Company Commander Chen officially came online.
He would continue to lead everyone forward with big strides.
With Chen Jun promoted to Deputy Company Commander, the First Platoon Leader position was now vacant, and the regiment had not assigned a platoon leader, so the company headquarters could handle it temporarily on their own.
On the drive back from the regiment, Gao Cheng had discussed this issue with Chen Jun.
Chen Jun’s suggestion was adopted by Gao Cheng.
Chen Jun pointed out that after synthesis, the First Platoon, during combat missions, would have the logistics support squad and maneuver squad following the company headquarters.
The remaining Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad would basically communicate directly with the company, bypassing the platoon level.
It was equivalent to a company direct subordinate squad.
In fact, whether the First Platoon needed a platoon leader or not was fine; the company headquarters could manage it directly, with Deputy Company Commander Chen Jun in charge of command, and acting management would still work.
However.
Although the First Platoon Leader role wasn’t that significant, the position itself held great value.
Leaving it vacant was such a waste.
Chen Jun suggested promoting Shi Jin to Acting Platoon Leader, having him serve as the Acting First Platoon Leader, as his seniority and experience were more than sufficient.
Most importantly, squad leaders acting as platoon leaders was very common in our army.
If Shi Jin took on the Acting Platoon Leader role, he wouldn’t have much extra to do; in actual work and training, he would still follow the Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad.
And with this acting platoon leader experience on his resume, Shi Jin’s personal resume would go up a level.
Chen Jun had been trying every way to build Shi Jin’s resume to ensure he could successfully advance to fourth level and not be laid off and sent home after military reform tightened quotas.
Acting Platoon Leader was a bold stroke on the resume; how could they miss such a great opportunity.
Gao Cheng’s determination to keep Shi Jin was no less than Chen Jun’s, and he had even publicly stated that he would use every trick to retain him.
Chen Jun’s proposal was clearly helping Shi Jin, so how could Gao Cheng refuse.
Shi Jin acting as First Platoon Leader was thus settled.
And when Shi Jin became the Acting First Platoon Leader, his Third Squad Leader position would become vacant, perfectly allowing it to naturally go to Wu Liu Yi.
The conditions for promotion to officer restricted below sergeant, and age must be under twenty-six.
Shi Jin exceeded both, no way around it.
Wu Liu Yi fit perfectly.
Plus, he had already earned two third-class merits and one collective second-class merit, so signing for promotion from the entire company was no issue.
For promotion to officer, he basically only lacked the final item: over one year of backbone resume.
This could naturally start building his backbone resume.
Using the word “build” might seem a bit utilitarian, but with Wu Liu Yi and Shi Jin being such excellent non-commissioned officers, yet stuck by minor issues.
Describing it as “building” actually felt more fitting.
After all, before Chen Jun came down, Wu Liu Yi had always been the strongest soldier in Steel Seventh Company, with top skills and professionalism in every aspect.
If not for Wu Liu Yi insisting on following Shi Jin and content to be his squad deputy.
If Wu Liu Yi had been transferred to any squad, he would have been squad leader for years already.
With Wu Liu Yi promoted to Squad Leader, the Deputy Squad Leader position would be vacant, and at this point Gao Cheng proactively mentioned that Cheng Cai already met the qualifications for promotion to officer, with performance outstanding among the veterans, and they could start cultivating him early.
He felt Cheng Cai taking over as Deputy Squad Leader would be pretty good.
After serving half a year or a year as Deputy Squad Leader, after the Group Army’s baseline assessment for T Division units ended, during the training gap period, transfer Cheng Cai to another squad as Squad Leader.
This operation would fully meet the conditions for promotion to officer, reserving another excellent cadre for Steel Seventh Company.
Gao Cheng’s idea was indeed very logical; Cheng Cai, as the strongest new recruit turned Private First Class, few veterans could match him.
But Chen Jun knew Cheng Cai better than anyone and felt this wasn’t quite right.
With Cheng Cai’s current seniority still a bit shallow, Third Squad was the ace squad gathering the company’s top experts; he couldn’t hold down the Deputy Squad Leader position.
Moreover, Cheng Cai’s mindset was still unstable; too much sunshine would make him overly radiant.
He suggested giving it to Third Squad’s Xie Chong.
Xie Chong was already in his third year as First Class Non-commissioned Officer, and had passed the Hell Furnace test back then, becoming one of the top ten soldiers participating in the mid-year competition.
Though he didn’t win any individual first place, his contributions to the team were obvious to all.
The group third-class merit and group second-class merit meant his seniority wasn’t lacking, and in every aspect he was more suitable for current Third Squad than Private First Class Cheng Cai.
The Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad had too many experts; Cheng Cai needed to improve more to be Deputy Squad Leader.
Gao Cheng fully trusted Chen Jun’s strength and placed great importance on his suggestions, not being stubborn like he would with others.
Ultimately, Gao Cheng followed Chen Jun’s suggestion and made the final adjustment list.
So after announcing Chen Jun as Deputy Company Commander, he then announced the new adjustments to the entire company.
Officially appointing Shi Jin as Acting First Platoon Leader, continuing to train with Third Squad; promoting Wu Liu Yi to Third Squad Leader, Xie Chong to Third Squad Deputy Squad Leader.
Shi Jin, Wu Liu Yi, and Xie Chong, upon hearing the order, didn’t react for a moment.
They hadn’t expected pie to really fall from the sky.
All three were veterans of Steel Seventh Company, with the shortest-serving Xie Chong having been there over five years, having good team relations in the company.
The three benefited from Chen Jun’s promotion, receiving enthusiastic applause from the entire company’s warriors.
Snapped out of it by the congratulatory applause, Shi Jin and the other two, thinking of the company’s trust in them, were visibly excited.
As the prolonged applause slowly faded, Gao Cheng then dropped the ultimate bombshell.
He publicly announced that they had received orders from division headquarters: starting today, Steel Seventh Company would no longer be the Seventh Armored Reconnaissance Company; it would become the division’s, even the Group Army’s, and even the entire army’s first established Combined Arms Company.
The establishment of the Seventh Reconnaissance Combined Arms Company would become the new name of this honored division.
The Seventh Company’s warriors had long been eagerly anticipating the day when the Combined Arms Company was officially recognized and established, as it represented everyone’s efforts.
Now, they finally reaped the fruits; Steel Seventh Company officially gained its new establishment.
And it was the division’s, even the entire army’s first, meaning every one present became a participant in history, able to enjoy this feast of glory.
The surging, passionate emotions thoroughly erupted.
Clapping until palms were red, excited shouts hoarse with strain, faces flushed with racing heartbeats—all insufficient to release the moment’s feelings.
The warriors finally removed their hats, excitedly hurling them into the sky with all their might.
Picking them up when they fell, hurling them skyward again.
Shouts and screams continued nonstop; the entire company plunged into an ocean of excitement.
Gao Cheng on the platform didn’t interrupt the warriors’ frenzied actions below, just like Chen Jun and Hong Xingguo, watching it all with satisfied smiles.
From preparing for the mid-year grand competition, to later preparing the Combined Arms Company, and finally the confrontation exercise.
This had lasted over a year; the warriors had been holding in their determination, and that pent-up energy had indeed built up miserably.
Now, the flower finally bloomed; it was time to let everyone vent freely.
After nearly a hundred warriors howled like mad wolves, going crazy for several minutes, nearly shouting their throats hoarse.
To celebrate this double joy and to motivate the warriors’ hard efforts.
Gao Cheng announced a celebratory feast for the entire company tonight.
No requirements, just one sentence—
Drink freely, eat heartily, more meat if short, more beer if short, don’t worry the company has no money; tonight’s consumption all covered by the Deputy Company Commander.
With Company Commander Gao Cheng’s words, the warriors became even more exhilarated.
“……”
Only Chen Jun smiled wryly.
As Platoon Leader, he’d scrimped and saved a year’s salary; if he really covered the entire company’s feast food and drinks, these guys would likely clean him out.
But Chen Jun wasn’t heartbroken; money should be spent on the blade’s edge.
Tonight’s feast was the blade’s edge.
……
The Seventh Company’s revelrous feast was held very dignifiedly; every warrior vented their emotions thoroughly, with emptied green bottles piled into a small mountain.
Beer doesn’t have much kick; everyone could easily down two or three bottles.
With over a hundred in the company, that was a huge amount.
The cookhouse didn’t have enough stock; in the end, Second Battalion Commander Li Fuguo personally coordinated, borrowing from other companies in the battalion to have enough.
Because it really was Seventh Company’s good times.
With Seventh Company’s Combined Arms Company establishment officially in place, the battalion’s cadres also benefited.
Second Battalion Commander Li Fuguo joined the feast, congratulating Gao Cheng, Chen Jun, and others, and finally magnanimously waved his hand.
All the drinks tonight covered by the battalion.
This move by Second Battalion Commander Li Fuguo immediately won the favor of the entire company’s officers and soldiers.
Originally, because the Company Commander had good relations with the Regiment Commander, handling many things directly with him, the Second Battalion Commander’s presence was minimal.
Though bypassing levels wasn’t regulation, with connections, it was as good as rule.
Now, with this battalion headquarters covering, the Second Battalion Commander’s status in the company soared instantly, also gaining favor from Chen Jun and Gao Cheng.
And what even Second Battalion Commander himself hadn’t expected.
This casual, unintentional act gave him a very good start in the upcoming competition for Combined Arms Battalion Commander position.
Cause and effect.
Were just that wondrous.
……
With the Seventh Reconnaissance Combined Arms Company establishment officially in place, Chen Jun smoothly became Seventh Company’s Deputy Company Commander, and Steel Seventh Company entered an unprecedentedly strong period.
Normally, the confrontation exercise had concluded, and all due things had come down.
After over a year of continuous toil, Steel Seventh Company was due for a period of rest, to adjust the training rhythm and let the warriors relax.
But under the push of modern military reform waves, Steel Seventh Company, already at the forefront.
Had too much to do!
Not to mention division headquarters had long notified that the Group Army’s baseline assessment for T Division units could land on any regiment at any time.
Steel Seventh Company, as 702 Regiment’s core main force, had to play a key role.
Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.
In this big environment and background, how could Steel Seventh Company slack even slightly.
The day after the celebratory feast ended, Steel Seventh Company plunged into intense training, with various basic and professional trainings successively launched.
Especially this year’s new recruits; all basic subjects needed improvement.
Military gymnastics, crawling, combat techniques, and other close-quarters struggle skills were must-learn subjects for scouts, all to be brought out for focused learning.
And sure enough.
Xu Sanduo had poor body coordination; at first he couldn’t even master the three major steps, stumbling on turns, looking like a physical wreck.
But in these combat projects, he displayed astonishing talent.
Not just reaction speed, but action essentials too; he learned and comprehended faster than others, like a martial arts genius in the movies.
Even Gao Cheng, who looked down on Xu Sanduo, had to view him differently in this aspect.
Only Chen Jun smiled without speaking.
Xu Sanduo hadn’t truly awakened yet, but his body housed a soul called “Wang Baoqiang,” a Shaolin Temple expert.
Wouldn’t learning combat skills be fast?
Besides close-quarters melee combat skills, there were various infiltration reconnaissance skills, basic shooting in all subjects, armored vehicle tactical applications, data theory learning for various weaponry and equipment, and more.
Dozens of training subjects filled the schedule every day.
Even nights had extra night training.
The most done at night was night shooting, with all stamina training and apparatus training shifted to nighttime overtime.
Daytime simply wasn’t enough.
Under this high-pressure, high-density training, time flew by like running water.
In a blink, two months passed.
On the afternoon of June 28, 1997, the regiment finally issued one order and one instruction, making this ordinary day extraordinary.
First was the long-awaited, nervously anticipated Group Army baseline assessment.
The division headquarters order clearly stipulated that 702 Regiment must complete preparations for the “Sharp Sword Operation 1997” mountain confrontation exercise by July
And must depart on time at 10 a.m. on July 26 from the military train station on the dedicated train.
