Chapter 162: First, Take A Few Chunks Of Meat From The Blue Army!
It was not yet three o’clock in the afternoon, and the sun was still hanging high in the sky.
Inside the Blue Army Command Post, however, the light was dim.
This made the command post, which had no windows at all, feel even more oppressively stern in the darkness.
The internal space of the command post was not large, without the massive command system of the Red Army Command Post, which required dozens of communications soldiers to guard and operate a large number of radios and equipment, as well as commanders at all levels totaling more than a dozen people.
Here there were only four communications soldiers, plus a handful of command personnel.
Simple to the point of being a bit desolate!
Sitting at the head was Senior Colonel Cui Zhiguo with two stripes four stars; he was the Chief of Staff of the Blue Army this time.
Because the Blue Army was a temporary assessment unit, without the military chief officer of regular troops, Cui Zhiguo was essentially the overall commander of the Blue Army.
However.
Even as someone arranged by the Group Army Headquarters, Cui Zhiguo was still a bit short when it came to commanding A Brigade.
The main issue was coordinating the combat between A Brigade and the Army Aviation Brigade.
To the left of the Senior Colonel was a familiar face, sitting there with an air of arrogance in his eyes, even his smile carrying a chill—the “King of Old A”—
Tie Lu!
As a strategic-level special forces unit under the direct control of the General Staff Headquarters, temporarily managed by the Capital Military Region—with even the Group Army having no authority over it—A Brigade’s Captain primarily handled the experimental and practical development tasks for the army’s frontline new equipment, new tactics, and new strategies under the wave of modernized informatization reform.
Tie Lu’s status was extremely special; even with only the rank of Colonel with two stripes three stars, the entire Group Army had to give him some respect.
It was equivalent to Chen Jun’s current status in the Seventh Zero Two Regiment, which had already surpassed his military rank and position.
Sitting next to Tie Lu was a Lieutenant Colonel wearing the same temperate jungle camouflage combat uniform as Tie Lu, with a roguish expression on his face—he was also a familiar face.
He was the combat power ceiling of 《Soldiers Sortie》, the Squadron Leader Yuan Lang, known as the Smiling Tiger.
The officer sitting to the right of Cui Zhiguo was also a Colonel with two stripes three stars, but identifiable from his blue-white camouflage combat uniform as coming from the Army Aviation Force.
Next to him was also a blue-white camouflage Lieutenant Colonel; the setup was really quite similar to Old A’s side.
The entire command personnel of the command post added up to only a mere five people; even including technical personnel, it was less than ten.
Much more desolate compared to the Red Army.
And this “desolation” of the command post was precisely one of the objectives of this military reform.
Through a more informatized command system, the command post structure could be made even more streamlined, reducing the number of command transmissions in the relay process to improve the efficiency of the command system and bid farewell to the traditional bloated command structure.
“Captain Tie, for this assessment of the Seventh Zero Two Regiment, what do you think would be more appropriate?”
Cui Zhiguo, just like in the previous confrontations, handed over the formulation of the confrontation exercise combat plan to the Old A Captain at the forefront of the military reform.
This Group Army’s troop assessment exercise was originally centered around A Brigade.
Tie Lu was the actual overall commander!
“Heavy Armored Units all have one style, and the Seventh Zero Two Regiment is no exception—nothing special about them. We don’t need to treat them differently; just use the same tactics as before to beat them, and finish before dark tomorrow.”
Tie Lu held a cigarette between his fingers, leaning obliquely on the chair, half-squinting his eyes, his tone casual.
“We’ve already taken down four heavy armored units; the longest didn’t even last a day. I do hope the Seventh Zero Two Regiment can give me some motivation; otherwise, it’s too boring—no energy at all.”
Yuan Lang wasn’t as arrogant as Tie Lu; he was also smoking at the meeting, but his tone was cut from the same cloth—not surprising, coming from the same family.
“Haha.”
Cui Zhiguo laughed and praised: “Your Old A’s tactics are indeed very unique; every step makes it impossible to predict the next.
This ghostly playing style—not just the heavy equipment regiments below, even if I led a mountain regiment, encountering you would give me a headache.”
Cui Zhiguo was nearly fifty years old and could certainly be called experienced.
But Old A truly made him feel unfamiliar!
“The era is progressing, technology is progressing; sticking to traditional combat is a dead end.”
Tie Lu slightly raised his chin, took a drag of his cigarette, and said arrogantly: “We’re Old A as the whetstone; if we don’t grind them hard, how can they recognize themselves and know their deficiencies and flaws.”
“The Blue Army’s role is the whetstone, which is also the value of this exercise.”
Cui Zhiguo turned to the right and said: “Captain Tian, for tomorrow’s mountain exercise, preliminarily set as the old plan—what do you have to add?”
The Army Aviation Brigade was the main firepower output point and needed certain affirmation.
“Chief of Staff Cui, our cooperation with A Brigade has always been smooth, with very good results; we’ve won four in a row. For this fifth confrontation exercise, I believe it will be the same as always—my brigade is ready for dispatch at any time.” Captain Tian smiled.
“Good, then it’s decided.”
Chief of Staff Cui stood up and walked to the sand table on the right, turning on the lamp hanging above it, illuminating the entire sand table.
Tie Lu, Yuan Lang, Captain Tian, and others all stood up and gathered around the sand table.
“According to the established combat plan, tomorrow at nine o’clock…”
Cui Zhiguo pointed to a highland on the sand table: “Captain Tie, the ground mission is yours; there are two tasks for you to complete.
We can’t hold the position hard, so we can only use the old method to delay time.
Dispatch special forces sniper teams to our forward position to intercept the Red Army—not to hold the position, just to kill as many as possible and delay the Red Army’s pace.
Secondly, dispatch elite reconnaissance teams to infiltrate from the Red Army forward position and be sure to locate the Red Army Command Post.”
Since they hadn’t formally engaged the Red Army yet, the butterfly wings hadn’t fluttered, and the tactical playing style arranged by the Blue Army Chief of Staff was the same as the original plot.
“Yuan Lang, the mission is assigned; no need for me to arrange how to do it, right.” Tie Lu looked at Yuan Lang and said.
“Heavy Armored Units suck at mountain warfare; one position doesn’t need many—one team is enough. As for the Red Army Command Post…”
Yuan Lang grinned and looked toward the Army Aviation Captain: “Once my team sets off, your helicopters can start warming up.
Shortest half an hour, at most two hours, then you take off and get to work.”
Yuan Lang wasn’t boasting wildly; it was pure confidence in his own strength.
The four heavy equipment regiments taken down in the previous assessment exercises were no weaker than Seventh Zero Two, yet fragile like children against Old A.
Command posts couldn’t hide at all; the longest lasted an hour and a half before being exposed.
Yuan Lang saying two hours to find the Red Army Command Post was deliberately leaving half an hour buffer—very cautious.
“Good, I like that confidence.”
Cui Zhiguo gave Yuan Lang a thumbs up, then began issuing orders to the Army Aviation Brigade.
The tactics were the same as the original plot.
Attack helicopters split into two routes: one to strike Red Army tanks and heavy artillery, preventing Red Army heavy firepower from advancing to cover and bomb the Old A interception teams.
The other route of attack helicopters on standby, waiting only for Old A to report the Red Army Command Post coordinates, then launch the lightning decapitation operation.
Besides these major deployments, various small tactical details were subsequently unfolded one after another.
While the Red Army and Blue Army Command Posts arranged tactics, the units below were also actively preparing, readying the required ammunition, fuel, supplies, and other supplies.
Both sides from top to bottom were busy, not even a moment to rest.
Until nightfall.
Only then did the prepared sides begin to rest and build up strength.
…
The next day.
July
All sixteen companies of the 702 Regiment’s warriors deployed according to the regiment headquarters meeting’s combat plan decision and the exercise’s position requirements.
For example, relevant Red Army positions needed troops sent ahead to garrison.
Troops preparing to attack could also deploy early, waiting in optimal positions, ready to act the moment the exercise began.
Though a bit opportunistic, it didn’t violate the exercise rules.
When the time reached 8:
With only five minutes left before the exercise start.
All regiment units had arrived at designated positions, conducting final pre-exercise checks, awaiting only the directing staff’s start order.
Steel Seventh Company, as the 702 Regiment’s sharp knife, bore a heavy mission in this exercise.
At this time, it was arranged by Gao Cheng into three different positions with three platoons in different configurations, to complete their respective early-stage missions.
Among them, First Platoon, except for First Squad with a different mission following company headquarters to the frontline for support work.
The remaining two squads were in position at the frontline, two or three people clustering together, doing final checks per Platoon Leader Shi Jin’s orders.
Because armored vehicles were inconvenient in mountain warfare, especially burdensome for scouts.
Steel Seventh Company had collectively abandoned armored vehicles, fully transforming into standard mountain infantry, with equipment adjusted accordingly.
Second Squad and Third Squad of First Platoon, as the reconnaissance squad, had the mission to reconnoiter the Blue Army forward position enemy situation.
So their equipment focused on light and portable.
Besides standard rifles and machine guns, the two squads each had only one extra rocket launcher, not even carrying vanguard anti-air.
To ensure no issues after combat began, Acting Platoon Leader Shi Jin personally checked equipment one by one.
Shi Jin was honest and diligent, meticulous in his work, even carefully checking the wiring of the laser simulation confrontation devices.
Especially when checking Xu Sanduo, Shi Jin worried that Xu Sanduo’s dull clumsiness might cause problems.
While checking, he carefully reminded and instructed: “Don’t mess with this wire; if this thing goes wrong and bursts, it can blind you if it gets in your eyes.”
“Thanks, Squad Leader, hehe.”
Xu Sanduo nodded heavily, grinning foolishly showing two rows of white teeth.
Though he had participated in the division’s confrontation exercise before, wearing such laser exercise confrontation devices, last time he didn’t even have bullets—just a human packhorse.
This time, he could finally join the reconnaissance squad properly as a scout.
Xu Sanduo was very excited and cherished the opportunity.
“Army Day is coming soon; who knows how long this exercise will last—probably no holiday. Squad Leader wishes you a happy holiday in advance.”
Shi Jin fastened the buckle on Xu Sanduo’s hat and patted his shoulders.
“Squad Leader, happy holiday to you too.”
Xu Sanduo stood straight and saluted, his big white teeth especially conspicuous.
Just then.
“Puff puff puff~”
Three explosions sounded from the sky.
Shi Jin turned toward the sound and saw three red incendiary bombs shooting straight into the sky, still dazzling in broad daylight.
Others also looked over, knowing this was the directing staff’s signal.
Red incendiary bombs up—exercise officially begins.
“Really pretty, like flowers.”
Shi Jin sighed as he watched the incendiary bombs, then retracted his gaze and ordered loudly: “Alright, exercise has started. With Wu Liu Yi as lead, entire platoon assembly.”
“Entire platoon assembly.”
“Entire platoon assembly.”
Second Squad and Third Squad leaders shouted together; all warriors immediately ran to Shi Jin.
“Dress right, eyes front…”
The newly appointed Platoon Leader Comrade Shi Jin officially began his first confrontation exercise, his life-and-death battle as a platoon-level commander.
The two squads’ next combat mission was close-in reconnaissance of all Blue Army forward positions.
Third Platoon’s three squads, based on different missions, rushed in three directions after the exercise began to complete the tasks assigned by Chen Jun.
With his god’s-eye view of this plot, Chen Jun would maximize these three squads’ roles.
Striving, before the butterfly wings fluttered and the plot changed greatly, for each of the three squads to leverage their strengths and take a bite out of the Blue Army.
Third Platoon, as Steel Seventh Company’s heavy firepower, without armored vehicles for transport.
Chen Jun could only make temporary changes based on needs.
Of the six 100mm mortars, only three were kept—one per squad after carrying, with seven extra people to carry ammunition.
Each shell weighed eight kilograms; each warrior, based on physical fitness, could carry two to three.
Seven people could carry about 18; three squads could carry at least 50 shells total, enough to sustain the three mortars’ firepower.
The reason for halving the mortars and using seven people for shells.
Was that with limited ammunition, more mortars were still very restricted; once shells ran out, they were scrap iron.
But remaining shells were unaffected; even one mortar could fire them all.
The firepower platoon, due to its special function, in coordinated combat with the regiment firepower company, couldn’t show its value.
Plus, once deep enemy rear infiltration began, firepower platoon warriors would be the hardest worked.
Each carrying dozens of pounds, marching in roadless mountains, huge physical consumption—best to conserve energy early.
So Third Platoon had no early mission, just find a safe spot to rest.
Compared to Steel Seventh Company fully infantry-ized, moving very quietly, almost negligible in the dense jungle.
First Battalion and Third Battalion, after combat began, made an extremely shocking spectacle.
