Chapter 174: Oh Ho! Caught Tielu’s Eye
“Ah, he… isn’t he Regiment Commander Wang Qing Rui of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment? According to the rules, he has already been destroyed along with the Red Army Headquarters and should have withdrawn from the exercise. Why is he still coming to personally receive the prisoners?”
The helicopter’s engines had already been shut off, and there were no noisy sounds at the scene. The Blue Army pilot’s puzzled words left the squadron captain equally baffled.
Looking at Regiment Commander Wang and the others approaching closer and closer, he frowned, momentarily at a loss for words.
“Are they going to play dirty?” another Blue Army pilot said angrily.
“The target destruction rate is one hundred percent. This was clearly informed to us by the Directing Staff. It’s impossible for them to still be alive unless they insist on playing dirty.”
“Right, they must be playing dirty. We have to report this situation upward.”
“Although we have been captured, since they are playing dirty first, it’s not our fault. Let’s go report them to the Directing Staff right now.”
The remaining Blue Army pilots chimed in one after another, and in their anger, they had already reached a firm conclusion.
They were certain the Red Army was playing dirty!
Until Regiment Commander Wang led the group from Regiment Headquarters to the front of the Blue Army pilots, they still didn’t stop discussing, even continuing to shout.
“I see you all, blowing your beards and glaring, as if you’re unconvinced, huh? Isn’t that right?” Regiment Commander Wang asked with a smiling squint.
His own Second Battalion had already suffered heavy losses, with the four companies beaten down to almost just two companies left. Now they had finally caught the Blue Army and given them a hard hit, recovering their face.
At this moment, Regiment Commander Wang…
His mood was indescribably delightful!
“Right, we’re unconvinced.”
The captain of the helicopter squadron stepped forward, speaking on behalf of the group indignantly: “In our earlier strike, your Red Army Headquarters has already been destroyed.
You are core members and were eliminated long ago. You shouldn’t be appearing here.
Since you violated the rules first, we don’t need to stay here either. I’ll take our people directly to the Directing Staff to report you.”
With the captain taking the lead in resisting, the other pilots also chimed in, all shouting that they were going to report it.
Faced with the outraged Blue Army pilots, Regiment Commander Wang didn’t get angry because of it. Instead, he smiled and countered: “I just want to ask one thing: where did you get the news that our Command Post has been destroyed?”
This counter-question was brilliant, quietly digging a pit.
“Your Command Post was already exposed. We launched dozens of rockets, and the Directing Staff has notified our side that the target destruction rate is one hundred percent. Could there be a fake?” the Blue Army captain said confidently.
“Right, that’s very clear.”
Chen Jun stepped forward and teased: “The Directing Staff said the target, not the Command Post. First Battalion Headquarters was bombed—what does that have to do with our Command Post?”
Chen Jun hit the nail on the head, pointing out the key point, and didn’t forget to add: “Besides, don’t you think about it? We were able to ambush anti-air soldiers in advance and shoot down you idiots.
Don’t you suspect that your intelligence was completely wrong, deliberately leaked by us? Do you understand the Thirty-Six Stratagems’ ‘throw a brick to attract jade’?”
The group of Blue Army pilots, who had been indignant, saw a mere first lieutenant step out and originally wanted to harshly retort Chen Jun.
But after hearing the rest of Chen Jun’s words, they collectively turned mute.
They were all high-IQ pilots.
Their reaction speed was top-tier, and their thinking ability was equally top-tier.
Chen Jun’s words instantly made them realize that the Red Army had deliberately exposed the Red Army Headquarters to lure in their armed helicopter squadron.
Since it was throwing a brick to attract jade.
The so-called Red Army Headquarters they attacked definitely couldn’t be the real Red Army Headquarters; it was just an empty target made by the Red Army with dummies.
The target was just an empty shell—what use was a one hundred percent destruction rate?
The Blue Army, which specialized in all kinds of tricky tactics, had been played around by the Red Army, becoming a real-life case of “hunting eagles all day only to be pecked by one.”
The Blue Army pilots had no face left to retort.
“Come on, take them all back. Clear out a tent specially for them, feed them well and treat them well. When the exercise ends, the Blue Army will have to come pick up their people personally. We can’t let them misunderstand that we’re mistreating prisoners, haha.”
Regiment Commander Wang ordered loudly, his laughter resounding brightly.
No matter what the final result of the exercise was, thinking about how the Blue Army would have to come to him humbly to pick up their people after the exercise ended.
Regiment Commander Wang felt a burst of secret delight in his heart.
It was even more satisfying than when he first married his new wife.
The Blue Army pilots knew they had fallen for the trick. This round they had truly lost without any injustice, each one like a frostbitten eggplant with no temper left.
They cooperated as the Red Army warriors led them away, “detaining” them in a tent.
“This battle was really damn beautifully fought. Taking out three Blue Army armed helicopters in one go is bound to be a major heavy blow to the Blue Army. The Blue Army Commander-in-Chief, that wicked guy, will be heartbroken for a while.”
Regiment Commander Wang stood with hands on hips, immensely proud, then patted Chen Jun’s shoulder and chuckled: “To win this battle, Deputy Company Commander Chen, you are the one with the greatest merit.
When this exercise ends and we return to the regiment, I must drink with you properly, drink to our heart’s content, haha.”
“Good, then I won’t stand on ceremony. I’m just waiting for Regiment Commander’s celebratory drink.” Chen Jun wasn’t one to dampen the mood and immediately accepted the regiment commander’s favor.
And taking advantage of the current heated atmosphere, he decided to add some extra color for everyone.
“Regiment Commander, come on, let me take you to play something fun. I guarantee it will make the Blue Army Commander-in-Chief’s mentality explode. Even if it doesn’t explode, it’ll make him spit blood from anger.”
“Oh? Really? How to play?”
Regiment Commander Wang was drawn in by Chen Jun’s words and immediately became eager with interest.
The Chief of Staff and the various staff officers from the Command Post were also piqued by Chen Jun’s words with curiosity.
“The method is very simple—it’s this.”
Chen Jun pointed at the Regiment Headquarters radio that followed the team everywhere, always carried on the signalman’s back.
Grinning mischievously, he said: “The Blue Army has been monitoring our Regiment Headquarters radio all along. Doesn’t that mean whatever you say, the Blue Army Commander-in-Chief can hear?
Since that’s the case, with such a good opportunity now, Regiment Commander, why not say a few words to him?”
“Hahaha…”
This was just too mischievous. Everyone couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“I originally thought the Blue Army was wicked enough, but Deputy Company Commander Chen, you outdo the blue and surpass it—you’re even more wicked than them. But… I like it very much.”
Regiment Commander Wang’s words had such a huge contrast, making everyone laugh again.
The laughter grew even more intense!
In the midst of everyone’s joyful laughter, Regiment Commander Wang had the communicator turn on the radio and connect to First Battalion Headquarters, which had just been bombed.
Then he picked up the radio microphone and started a conversation across the air with the Blue Army Command Post.
“Hey, Blue Army Commander-in-Chief opposite, your high technology is indeed quite impressive. All our communications have been monitored by you.
But having high technology alone isn’t enough; it mainly depends on who uses it.
My move of turning the enemy’s plan to one’s own advantage—wasn’t bad, right? Consider it your appetizer. I’ve prepared many more good dishes for you later.
Also, these three armed helicopters you sent—I’ll politely accept them. When the exercise ends, don’t forget to come pick up your people.”
Regiment Commander Wang spoke very skillfully; not a single word was aggressive, yet every word carried aggression.
These words were contradictory, yet not contradictory.
This was the charm of Chinese language!
The words Regiment Commander Wang said truly, as Chen Jun had said, reached Tie Lu’s ears less than half a minute after he finished speaking.
Compared to the celebratory atmosphere on the Red Army side after their victory, the Blue Army Command Post was already under high pressure.
When the armed helicopter squadron was sneak attacked and annihilated so quickly they didn’t even have time to send a message to the Command Post, and later the Directing Staff passed the battle report to the Blue Army Command Post.
Tie Lu was shocked at the time, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.
Tie Lu, who was arrogantly confident in his abilities, had never imagined anyone could set a trap for him without him noticing at all, foolishly walking right into it.
So the annihilation of the armed helicopter squadron was such a huge blow to him.
Then, in this heavy atmosphere, before Tie Lu could recover from the blow, Regiment Commander Wang delivered a sharp follow-up stab.
This stab was truly ruthless.
Perfectly executed.
After reading it, Tie Lu laughed outright, opening his mouth in hearty laughter. He was indeed almost broken by it and could only cover it with laughter.
However.
As the top boss of A Detachment, his mentality adjustment ability was truly strong.
After just a few laughs, Tie Lu adjusted his emotions, lit a cigarette and took a drag, his arrogant confidence returning to his face.
“What a move of turning the enemy’s plan to one’s own advantage. Good, very good. Looks like I underestimated it. This little guy from the Red Army is trickier than I imagined. This makes the game more interesting; finally, I’ve got some interest.”
Tie Lu muttered to himself, then ordered: “Immediately pull up all information on company-level cadres from the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment. No, include platoon leaders too.
Screen out the abnormal personnel from them. I want all their information.”
Tie Lu wasn’t one to take a hit without striking back. Having lost this round to the Red Army, he was certainly going to strike back with thunderous force to recover the lost face.
And as someone proficient in various tactical plays, he knew that to counterattack the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, he had to drag out the ghost behind the scenes.
Tie Lu firmly believed that everything they had encountered, including A Detachment being attacked last night, was this ghost targeting their Blue Army with tricks.
Only by dragging out this ghost and investigating it thoroughly could they avoid repeating the mistake.
Before this exercise began, Tie Lu had specifically studied all field officers of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, analyzing all their temperaments and tactical styles.
This was the most critical and important part of the Blue Army picking at the Red Army’s loopholes and weaknesses.
But in all the officer information Tie Lu reviewed, none had such a ghostly combat style; they mostly followed traditional tactics.
Like other heavy equipment regiments, they shared the same lineage with little difference.
Yet now the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment was so tricky; their main tactical play was similar to other heavy equipment regiments, but they always caused trouble at crucial moments.
Tie Lu couldn’t help but suspect that the ghost making trouble wasn’t from the high-level command of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
High probability it was a grassroots company-level officer!
He hadn’t reviewed company-level officer information before, mainly because common sense misled him into not thinking grassroots officers from a grassroots company would have anything special.
To have the ability to influence the battle situation in a regiment-level exercise with thousands of troops.
Secondly, as the top leader of A Detachment, Tie Lu’s time was extremely precious. There was so much company-level information from one regiment; he simply didn’t have time to look at it all.
That’s why he hadn’t discovered a freak like Chen Jun before the exercise started.
Only now did he become aware!
Although up to now, Tie Lu still didn’t know why he had this intuition.
Feeling that a mere company-level officer, this fresh military academy graduate who hadn’t even fully grown up, could in regiment-level combat command.
Make regiment-level leaders, who always thought highly of themselves, listen to the command of such a junior officer.
Leading to his personally led cross-era Blue Army, with the most frontline equipment and tactical plays, which had already taken out four heavy equipment regiments in a row, eating several losses in a row against the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
But now all the information pointed in that direction, leaving Tie Lu no choice but to think that way; it was the only remaining possibility.
Facts proved.
Tie Lu still had real skills.
With just this limited intelligence, he could deduce that the Red Army’s ghost was hiding in the lowermost grassroots company, not in the Command Post that should have played the core role.
The Blue Army technician on the helicopter was also scalp-numb from the successive intelligence failures.
Receiving Tie Lu’s order, he didn’t dare slack off in the slightest and immediately quickly pulled up all company-level officer information from the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment through the Blue Army’s massive data terminal.
Including the final competition results and outcomes from the recent year-end grand competition and confrontation exercises.
Not looking wouldn’t reveal anything, but one look was shocking.
He thought it would take some effort, but it turned out to be as simple as drinking water.
All because Chen Jun stood out too much!
Just like the bright moon hanging in the pitch-black night sky.
That individual’s several pages of splendid battle records instantly stood out from dozens of people, firmly attracting Tie Lu’s attention.
“Chen Jun, male, 23 years old, height 189 cm, unmarried, Party member, graduated from Army Command Academy combined arms tactics major…
Native of Changsha, Hunan, parents doing business in Shanghai. For some reason, since attending military academy, he has never returned home to Shanghai…
Assigned to Steel Seventh Company of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, became regular platoon leader after half a year, exceptionally promoted to deputy company commander after one and a half years…
In division-level mid-year grand competition, consecutively took nine individual first places, totaling ten firsts, and broke all-army records…
Awarded individual second-class merit once, individual third-class merit once, collective second-class merit once, collective third-class merit once…
Participated in two exercises at division and regiment level. In the first, confronting Red Third Company of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, annihilated Red Third Company in less than two hours.
The second was confronting Division Direct Reconnaissance Battalion…
One company still annihilated a battalion…”
Tie Lu grew more shocked the more he read the information, those splendid battle records like thunderbolts from a clear sky, shaking his eyeballs to tremble…
Perfectly performing the legendary pupil earthquake!!
But this wasn’t the end; what was even more exaggerated and incomprehensible to him was still to come.
“During service, independently compiled combined arms theory and successfully led Steel Seventh Company to complete reorganization, becoming the division’s first in-table combined arms unit.
This…
Just an ordinary grassroots company from a heavy equipment regiment actually completed combined arms reorganization on its own?”
Tie Lu was shocked speechless!!
Tie Lu could absolutely be considered well-traveled, with outstanding personal ability not needing mention; he had connections in the navy, army, and air force.
What grand scenes hadn’t he seen? What peerless geniuses hadn’t he encountered?
But Chen Jun’s splendid to exaggerated resume still left Tie Lu more shocked the more he read.
Especially being able to form a combined arms unit.
This was simply too heaven-defying.
As the action commander of this Blue Army unit, he knew better than anyone what a combined arms unit represented and how difficult it was to form one.
Tie Lu’s pupils trembled more and more violently until he couldn’t even control his emotions.
His breathing involuntarily quickened!
Earlier, when an armed helicopter squadron was annihilated, though Tie Lu was very angry and incredulous, he hadn’t lost control of his breathing rhythm.
But just by looking at Chen Jun’s personal resume, Tie Lu became so uncontrollably emotional.
This alone proved that the psychological impact of Chen Jun’s resume was greater than the annihilation of an armed helicopter squadron.
“So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is.”
Tie Lu muttered and laughed, and as he laughed, intense craving emerged in his eyes, completely replacing the displeasure from the earlier defeat.
Chen Jun’s resume, aside from seeming to have a slight issue with family connections, a small flaw.
Every other point was almost perfect.
Dazzling and outstanding!
“Who would’ve thought, just an assessment exercise, and I’d encounter such a fine seedling. Truly unexpected.”
Thinking of A Detachment urgently needing to supplement troops and eagerly absorbing elites from navy, army, and air force units, Tie Lu’s eyes lit up brightly.
“Since I’ve encountered such talent in the exercise, looks like I need to bring out some real kung fu to properly test him and see where his limits are.”
It was from this moment that Tie Lu’s goal completely changed.
Originally just following superiors’ orders, routinely carrying out suppression of the Red Army unit to facilitate the upcoming military reform.
It turned into a personal assessment test of Chen Jun, wanting to probe where Chen Jun’s limits lay.
In his heart, he already regarded Chen Jun as one of old A.
Tie Lu was originally one who cherished talent like life. From the original plot where Tuo Yonggang directly confronted Yuan Lang, and Tie Lu personally sought favor from Yuan Lang, it was evident.
Now discovering a genius like Chen Jun was like an old lecher encountering Xi Shi without clothes.
Who could hold back!
How could he not pounce like a wolf or tiger!
…
