Chapter 168: Yuan Lang Is Stunned!!
Under the illumination of flares in the sky, the darkness on the position was temporarily dispelled, lit up as bright as daylight.
Ninth Company and Tenth Company together had more than a hundred warriors. With field of vision restored, their courage grew even bolder, and they launched a pursuit without any concerns.
Soon they successively caught up to the foot of the position and then chased the Blue Army into the forest.
Everyone only wanted to take down the Blue Army, afraid that running too slowly would mean they couldn’t claim the kills.
Gunshots crackled like firecrackers, mixed with streaks of laser red lines shooting out, making the forest more lively than Chinese New Year.
But lively as it was,
in reality, hits on people were rare.
On one hand, moving shooting was hard to control precisely; on the other, there were too many obstructions in the forest, and most lasers were blocked.
Lasers weren’t live rounds and couldn’t even penetrate leaves.
And in this one fleeing, one chasing scenario between both sides, they quickly reached deep into the forest.
Suddenly.
At the middle section of the Red Army pursuit team, from the pitch-black forests on both left and right sides, countless small black balls flew in, landing on the ground and exploding into puffs of white smoke.
The Red Army was caught off guard by this sudden attack, throwing their formation into brief chaos.
The Blue Army warriors who had been just running ahead earlier seemed to have premeditated it, and right at the moment the grenades exploded, they made a new change.
Uniform and coordinated as one person.
They simultaneously executed a high-difficulty tactical movement—side-lying prone reverse shooting.
While flipping prone, they swung their muzzles toward the rear.
“Dada dada da…”
The Blue Army’s gunshots rang out.
From rapid forward escape to dropping prone and firing back, the entire process took less than two seconds.
This was old A’s speed!
At the same time, dozens of gun barrels emerged from the forests on both sides, unleashing a barrage of precise firepower on the pursuing Red Army.
Under the glow of numerous muzzle flashes, Yuan Lang could faintly be seen.
With that familiar grin on his face!
The Red Army team that had chased all the way here was first bombarded head-on by grenades, then counterattacked by the Blue Army, and the situation turned one hundred and eighty degrees in an instant.
The Red Army at the very front all suffered, and those in the middle were equally miserable,
the Blue Army’s firepower was simply too ferocious!
In just these few short seconds, more than ten Red Army warriors started emitting white smoke.
Seeing the sporadic light from flares filtering through the leaf gaps, the front was already shrouded in smoke, with more people being eliminated.
The Tenth Company Commander, who thought he was about to claim great merit, was instantly sobered by the scene before him.
A clear message surged into his mind—
They had jumped into the Blue Army’s ambush circle!
The Tenth Company Commander felt a chill down his back, realizing things had gone terribly wrong. He had made a huge mistake, and the Red Army had plunged deep into danger.
He immediately shouted at the top of his lungs: “Bad! We’ve been ambushed, withdraw! Quick retreat! Everyone withdraw from the forest!”
The Tenth Company Commander’s reaction was already very fast; at the first moment of the attack, he shouted to retreat, preventing the troops from pressing deeper and all falling into the quagmire.
But the Blue Army had chosen the position too perfectly, and their firepower was simply too fierce and brutal.
Plus, the Blue Army had the advantage of night vision goggles; flares had extremely limited effect in the forest, making it impossible to accurately pinpoint Blue Army positions.
Most importantly, the sudden attack had the Red Army team dazed and disoriented.
Organizing a counterattack on the spot was simply impossible; brains stimulated to excitement by adrenaline were now shaking with fear.
Hearing the Tenth Company Commander’s order, someone immediately turned and ran.
One person led the group, instantly forming a rout.
Red Army warriors turned and fled in a panic, running too chaotically with too dark vision; many fell to the ground, and many more started emitting smoke.
Cries of various pains, angry curses, rose and fell amid the dense gunfire.
When the Red Army reappeared outside the forest, their numbers were noticeably fewer than before, with no formation left, just blindly running toward the 035 position.
What a sight of utter defeat!
“Pu~ pu~”
New flares soared into the sky.
The Red Army remnants, with restored field of vision, ran even faster than in the forest, and some could even fire back while running.
Perhaps because this wave’s harvest was already huge, or pursuing out posed too high a risk.
The Blue Army did not pursue out of the forest!
When the dejected Tenth Company Commander led his remnants back to the 035 highland with tails between their legs, he discovered that nearly half were missing.
“It’s over! All over!”
Seeing such a horrific battle record, the Tenth Company Commander stared blankly, collapsing to the ground.
Just because of his one erroneous adventure, the Red Army suffered a Blue Army ambush, with such heavy losses that two companies were reduced to one.
The Tenth Company Commander already knew very clearly that his career was basically done for.
In the worst case, he’d be discharged; at best, demoted and downgraded.
Even the Ninth Company Commander, who hadn’t led the chase against the Blue Army, wore a miserable expression, no better off than the Tenth Company Commander.
He hadn’t managed his company well, leaving it with only one platoon.
His punishment afterward wouldn’t be light either!
Sure enough.
The punishment for both soon came down.
“Fools, a bunch of fools.”
When news of the 035 position reached regiment headquarters, Regiment Commander Wang slammed the table in rage.
Still unsatisfied, he immediately ordered sternly: “Immediately order Second Battalion to relieve the two fools of their company commander duties; have each company’s deputy company commander act as company commander.
Also, have both of them roll to the position to sober up their mush-filled brains.”
Regiment Commander Wang’s roar echoed through First Battalion headquarters; the powerful pressure from his anger silenced the entire room, making the atmosphere exceptionally solemn.
Compared to Regiment Commander Wang Qing Rui’s smoking rage, Blue Army’s Yuan Lang was laughing especially happily.
Because this harvest came from an accident!
It turned out Yuan Lang’s devious playing style was besiege the point to strike reinforcements, that is, using Sun Tzu’s Art of War tactics.
By besieging three Red Army positions, he created the grand momentum of the Blue Army’s entire army striking out, confusing Red Army command for the second step.
He deliberately chose the hardest-hit Ninth Company, launching step-by-step pressure on that company’s position.
Yuan Lang had specifically studied Regiment Commander Wang’s personality and knew that under Red Army position attack, he definitely wouldn’t abandon the position but would send troops to support.
Yuan Lang was already prepared, having adventurously circled to the front of the 035 highland.
As long as Red Army support troops came, Yuan Lang, with Third Squad already prepared midway for the attack, would ambush them.
The entire combat process would last only two minutes; after fighting, withdraw immediately regardless of outcome.
With night vision advantage, they could absolutely withdraw safely.
Only two minutes reaction time—not to mention Red Army tank unit couldn’t arrive, even artillery unit couldn’t lock and fire.
Come without a trace, go without a trace; hit and run, never linger.
This was Yuan Lang’s strategy!
No need to annihilate the Red Army support troops; taking out one platoon or more would be a great victory.
Unexpectedly, the Tenth Company Commander didn’t take the usual path, choosing to run past the highland side, perfectly avoiding Yuan Lang’s ambush circle and wasting his preparations.
But this couldn’t stump Yuan Lang; he turned the enemy’s plan to one’s own advantage with an even better move.
He used radio to notify Qi Huan to cooperate in acting, pretending to be caught off guard by Red Army sneak attack, withdrawing all the way to his designated position.
Yuan Lang then led troops from the other side, sprinting at full speed to set up ambush first.
Thus came this perfect ambush battle of luring the enemy deep, inviting the guest into the trap.
The original goal of taking out one platoon was upgraded, thanks to Yuan Lang’s top-tier emergency thinking, to claiming 65 Red Army in one go.
While the Blue Army, in the whole battle, paid the cost of only two warriors.
No doubt.
This was a great victory!
Looking at the Red Army emitting smoke all over the forest floor, Qi Huan swept away the gloom from the 034 highland that morning, becoming high-spirited again.
“Captain, this move of yours is too brilliant; taking out nearly half a company in one go—these Red Army will cry themselves to death back home, haha.” Qi Huan laughed heartily.
“Mountain jungle is heavy armored infantry’s dead spot; full mechanization is their advantage, but here it became their burden. Without armored tanks and artillery support, they’re no better than marines out of water—winning against them is normal.”
Yuan Lang grinned confidently, then checked the time—it was nearing eleven-thirty.
“Tonight’s harvest is decent. Arrange it: leave three groups here to whack moles. If Red Army dares leave the position to dig traps for defense, knock those people out. Others prepare to pack up and go home.”
Yuan Lang intended to use these three positions to consume all Red Army infantry, so he absolutely couldn’t allow Red Army to leave positions to set up defenses.
“Got it, Captain, I’ll go now.”
Qi Huan received the order and then relayed it via radio to the other two action teams.
The two action teams receiving the order stopped their attacks on the highland, withdrawing from below the highland, preparing to retreat back into the forest.
“Pupu~~”
Far away at the 033 highland 2 kilometers out, two dazzling flares suddenly rose into the sky.
“That’s the direction of 033 highland—didn’t we already order First Action Team to withdraw? Why are there still flares?” Yuan Lang said puzzled.
Qi Huan was also momentarily confused and could only call via radio: “Calling First Action Team, this is squadron headquarters. What’s the situation there? Weren’t you ordered to withdraw? Why are you still fighting?”
“Report, we’ve been attacked. Report, we’ve been attacked by unknown forces, hiss…”
First Action Team hurriedly replied, but before clarifying the reason, it turned into static noise.
“What? Been attacked?”
Yuan Lang and Qi Huan reacted as exaggeratedly as hearing dinosaurs revive; the smiles on their faces instantly froze.
Yuan Lang, only thinking how to toy with Red Army into circles and achieve total victory tonight,
truly hadn’t dreamed that he would become someone else’s cake, that old A would fall to a grassroots regiment’s attack.
He’d been eyeing others’ dishes, unaware his own bowl had been stolen.
This was too inconceivable!!
If not hearing the communication firsthand, they would definitely think it was a joke.
…
Time back to a few minutes earlier.
Receiving the squadron headquarters order via Qi Huan, First Action Team stopped the attack on 033 highland, orderly withdrawing from below the highland back into the forest.
Then preparing to go through the dense forest to rendezvous with Yuan Lang’s unit and return to camp.
Along the way, First Action Team’s old As were quite satisfied with tonight’s results—not only covering Yuan Lang’s ambush, but also gaining some harvest themselves.
No one in the team eliminated, comfortably claiming 10 Red Army eliminations.
A couple more such attacks, and Red Army armored infantry’s combat effectiveness would be completely wiped out, thoroughly losing highland assault capability.
Armored vehicles couldn’t climb highland; without infantry, they could only gaze helplessly.
All old As carried victors’ stance, treating Red Army as cake on the chopping board, just thinking how to slowly devour it.
Never considering they themselves would become the cake, targeted to be eaten.
Not that every old A was arrogant and cocky.
But after four confrontations already fought, all against fully mechanized heavy armored units, old As had single-sidedly dominated every one.
Men aren’t saints, can’t be desire-free.
Winning too much naturally led to confidence explosion, feeling atop the food chain.
Just like the jungle king tiger facing sheep it saw as food—zero vigilance, no sense of threat from sheep.
Old As had identified as tigers, naturally not thinking sheep threatened them.
Little did they know.
Someone exploited this mentality gap, meticulously preparing a grand welcome “party,” waiting to surprise the old As.
The reason targeting First Action Team specifically was purely they were the unlucky ones.
Unaware they’d become prey, the carefully calculated First Action Team re-entered the forest they’d come from, sensing no threat inside.
Yet once all entered the forest, the never-thought-of accident happened.
“Pupu pupu pupu…”
Fully 10 flares launched simultaneously.
Flares, when burning, emit extremely blinding light—rising dozens of meters, they light the ground like daylight.
But these 10 flares launched, only two went upward.
The other eight were horizontally fired.
That’s right.
Fired straight at the old As.
The eight flares’ positions were very precise, hitting squarely from four directions, perfectly encircling the old A action team entering the forest.
Though all flares hit the ground, nearest old A still two or three meters away.
But all twenty old As were thoroughly startled!
Not just because flares burn intensely—hitting people could burn them dead, absolutely lethal killing power.
Firing at people in exercise, and crowds at that, was simply insane.
Exercise rules didn’t ban firing flares at people because no one had ever done it, never imagining such audacity.
Thus no explicit rule in exercise rules against firing flares at people.
But no rule doesn’t mean you can do it.
Why Red Army appeared here—old As had no time to think, already infuriated, itching to grab the maniac who thought of firing flares at people and beat them senseless.
But now they could hardly protect themselves, no hands free for that.
Because under flares’ intense light, old As wearing night vision goggles were like hit by flashbang grenades—everyone’s vision went pure white.
Some old As’ vision went pitch black, night vision goggles directly burned out by strong light.
The night vision goggles that brought overwhelming advantage in this night battle now became their burden.
All old As were “blinded”!
Good thing old As were special forces after all; reaction speed and physical fitness far surpassed ordinary, instinctively defending at once.
Even eyes blind unable to see enemies, bodies instinctively sought shelter.
Yet even if old As’ reaction speed was fast, they were ambushed first by Red Army—second hand no matter how fast couldn’t beat first hand.
“Dada da…”
Gunfire following right behind flares shot from three directions at the old As.
Even as bodies instinctively found shelter, five old As were hit, immediately emitting white smoke, first wave victims of the ambush.
Flares continued burning on ground, lighting dozens of meters around brightly.
Even as old As instantly ditched night vision goggles and sought shelter at max speed, they couldn’t escape Red Army’s omnipresent guns.
“Withdraw, withdraw outside the forest.”
“Smoke grenades for cover, quick.”
First Action Team’s squad leader was very capable; from gunfire he knew the attacking Red Army troops numbered no less than sixty.
Under such massive scale attack, they had no counterattack chance.
Forget special forces.
Even Superman would turn into honeycomb.
Since no counterattack possible, don’t linger even a second—fastest speed disengage and withdraw was the only way.
Otherwise even one second late could sacrifice another warrior.
First Action Team’s squad leader decided decisively; Blue Army’s equipment lead advantage still held, truly giving them a chance to escape.
“Pupu pupu…”
Several smoke grenades thrown and detonated.
As thick smoke filled the forest, Red Army quickly lost sight of Blue Army, only able to blindly spray into the smoke.
“Deputy Company Commander, chase them?”
Third Platoon Leader, face flushed with excitement, asked Chen Jun standing beside him.
As long as Chen Jun nodded, he’d immediately lead rush.
“No need, don’t pursue a beaten enemy. In jungle we can’t outrun them; pursuing is futile, might even fall into their traps. Their boss isn’t ordinary, not easy to deal with.”
Chen Jun, who came out specially to “shop,” was unexpected here, and this surprise harvest was quite bountiful.
Chen Jun was very satisfied with the current harvest; he understood better than anyone to quit while ahead.
Up to this point in the exercise, Red Army had been unilaterally attacked by Blue Army, suffering heavy losses, only able to defend helplessly.
Participating in ambushing Blue Army filled Third Platoon Leader with immense honor and pride.
Personally, he’d love to chase and beat the drowning dog, even if eliminated first in pursuit, without hesitation.
But Chen Jun wasn’t pursuing, so Third Platoon Leader could only rein in his excitement.
Waiting for smoke to clear, collect victory fruits.
After all…
There were already plenty of Blue Army in the smoke!!
The confrontation exercise had gone a full day, but most Red Army still hadn’t seen what Blue Army looked like, because Blue Army had recovered all their corpses.
Tonight’s attack so sudden and fierce, Blue Army had no time to take corpses away.
Packing all these Blue Army away—even as “corpses” of the killed in action—would greatly boost Red Army morale.
Especially loss-heavy Second Battalion needed it to rekindle low morale.
These Blue Army were the best stimulants!!
