Chapter 221: Composite Battalion Phase Two Activated!
Gao Cheng’s side accepted the process very smoothly, and the cadets’ initial impressions were all very good.
The construction progress of the Combined Arms Battalion base was also very fast. As buildings with army characteristics rose from the ground one after another, each company’s camp had already taken initial shape.
Under this smooth sailing situation, time seemed to have been given an accelerate buff.
When the Pumpkin Building, housing forty-four cadets, had most of its dormitories emptied, leaving only the final nine cadets.
The three-month training camp finally ended.
On the morning of the last day of the training camp, it was still the unchanging 10 kilometers morning exercise warm-up, and after breakfast, the nine cadets were called to assemble at the edge of the large parade ground.
The cadets, after three months of hellish torment, had long forgotten the concept of time.
Supported only by willpower, they numbly cooperated with the training.
The cadets didn’t even realize that this was already the last day of the training camp. They lined up in a row at the edge of the parade ground, still thinking about what suffering they’d endure in the morning.
Having nine cadets persist to the end put Yuan Lang in a very good mood today.
Even though he’d worked for nothing for someone, it didn’t affect his mood.
With a smile on his face, he strode to the front of the drill, raised his hand in a spirited salute, and said, “The three-month training camp officially ends today.
From today onward, the review period is over. You and them are no longer different.”
As Yuan Lang spoke, he pointed to the old As nearby, meaning they had passed the training camp and officially become members of A Brigade.
But the cadets, tormented for three months and scared by Yuan Lang’s varied tricks,
had rigid thinking, believing Yuan Lang was still playing tricks.
They didn’t react at all.
“Still haven’t reacted?”
Yuan Lang was amused, realizing it would take time for the rigid cadets to react, then continued, “War is dangerous, and in future wars, we will stand on the crest of danger.
No frontline friendly forces, no rear support—that’s adversity within adversity.
But in this peaceful environment of peace worldwide, what can it give us?
With the nation as backup, the people as source, squad leaders coaxing, company commanders spoiling, regiment commander covering, supplies provided.
Has any of you faced true adversity? In crises of life and death, isolated and helpless, raise your hand and let me see?”
Among these cadets who persisted for three months, whether top student Wu Zhe, the Three Musketeers from the small mountain village, or the cadets raised in the city.
In their life growth trajectories, they had no connection whatsoever to war.
So there were no life-and-death crises!
After Yuan Lang asked, no one raised a hand; the scene remained quietly still.
Yuan Lang seemed accustomed to such scenes and wasn’t surprised by the cadets’ reactions. He changed to another approach: “You all want to come to A Brigade, right.”
The result…
Still no one spoke!!
At this moment, the cadets’ inner emotions toward A Brigade were more dissatisfaction and anger. What kept them staying was their unwillingness to admit defeat.
Because special warfare training had just begun domestically, everyone only felt the unreasonable various trainings were deliberately toying with and trampling them.
Because they didn’t understand, they were very angry.
Unlike in the 21st century, where anyone who could go online knew special forces training was the devil’s path, and participating meant all kinds of torment.
Whether they could persist to the end or not, at least they could understand such training.
Yuan Lang could see the dissatisfaction in everyone’s eyes and knew the cadets’ current thoughts—probably no good impression of A Brigade.
He could only explain as much as possible: “From today on, you can only rely on yourselves.
No comfort, no sustenance, no ideal, not even hope. What you have is only despair, and the determination to grit your teeth and persist.
Only those who come out from here are the people I need, and you have already succeeded halfway.”
Gaining status and treatment equal to the old As didn’t mean the cadets had become old As; they could only count as new recruit old As.
Just like the new recruits in the army’s new recruit company, boys who had just entered service from society wearing frog skin, clueless about army matters.
Likewise, these nine cadets who passed the training camp were clueless about special forces.
Special forces soldiers are the ultimate exploitation of individual soldier combat power, not just about good stamina and endurance, passing basic skills.
There were even harsher tests waiting for them to challenge.
In the subsequent special warfare techniques training process, whether the cadets could quickly adapt to the rhythm of special warfare and perfectly integrate and absorb the special warfare techniques.
That was the key of keys.
Only by completing this next step could newcomers become true old As.
Xu Sanduo, Cheng Cai, and others naturally didn’t know there was even harder training waiting ahead. Compared to what was coming, the training camp’s difficulty was nothing.
But Yuan Lang saying they had only succeeded halfway made them very clear in their hearts.
They weren’t true old As yet!
Because they hadn’t reached final success, Wu Liu Yi, who only wanted to prove himself, didn’t stand up to refuse joining at this time.
The other cadets also held their breath proudly, using silence to confront Yuan Lang.
Yuan Lang thought that in the subsequent old A newcomer training, most new recruits would gradually adapt and accept A Brigade during this period.
So Yuan Lang said no more, giving a look to Qi Huan nearby.
Qi Huan, understanding Yuan Lang’s intent, held a stack of A Brigade exclusive armbands and solemnly walked to the front of the line, slapping one heavily on Xu Sanduo’s left chest, signifying recognition of Xu Sanduo as a member of A Brigade.
Xu Sanduo extended his left hand to press on it, preventing it from slipping off after Qi Huan’s hand left.
This completed the handover ceremony!
From cadet to newcomer!
Next was the second cadet, third cadet, fourth cadet, fifth cadet…
Qi Huan slapped heavily each time, and every cadet’s action was the same: pressing the armband with the left hand to complete this ceremony.
And when all cadets completed receiving the armbands and officially became A Brigade newcomers.
Just as the second stage training was about to begin.
Chen Jun, who had already received multiple urgent calls from the regiment, had also completed his mission here and had now arrived at Tie Lu’s office.
“Captain, here are the lesson plans you wanted, both copies. If you find no issues, my task is done too. The regiment has tight tasks; I need to hurry back.”
Chen Jun placed two thick stacks of documents on Tie Lu’s desk.
“No need to look at the lesson plans; I trust you. If even you couldn’t write them well, I couldn’t find anyone better to revise them.”
Tie Lu didn’t look at the documents on the desk, lit a cigarette, and smiled, “Comrade Chen Jun, I think you can stay a few more months.
These newcomers’ tests aren’t over yet. From newcomer to old A, their road is still long; this is merely the beginning.
Aren’t you always poaching? Since you’re here, how about poaching a few more?”
Poaching was a new term Chen Jun casually used in conversations to beautify his talent poaching; Tie Lu had learned it quickly.
His reason for asking Chen Jun to stay and poach was mainly wanting Chen Jun’s help.
After all, these two lesson plans were written by Chen Jun. If Chen Jun personally guided the teaching, the training effect could be optimized.
Even if it were other A Brigade chief officers, even the most capable Yuan Lang.
Tie Lu didn’t believe he had the ability to fully grasp these two lesson plans that transcended the current era, the most frontline special warfare lesson plans.
If Chen Jun left A Brigade now, problems were bound to arise later.
Rather than calling Seven Zero Two daily or flying there for every issue to personally find Chen Jun to solve problems.
The best method was naturally to keep Chen Jun, let him stay at A Brigade a few more months.
At least fully implement these two lesson plans, so after everyone learned them once, the subsequent consolidation work would be much simpler.
Chen Jun personally was quite willing to stay longer; excellent talent shouldn’t be wasted,
but staying at A Brigade had a major premise: only idling when there was no necessary work could he stay.
If the Combined Arms Battalion side had work, Chen Jun must prioritize it.
Now the Combined Arms Battalion had completed the first stage; the bases for five companies plus battalion headquarters were built, allowing all companies to officially move in.
Chen Jun didn’t need to participate in the first stage; nothing too important.
At most, after the end, return to Seven Zero Two to personally inspect the newly built Combined Arms Battalion base, check if various facilities were constructed properly.
The next second stage of troops moving in, Chen Jun absolutely could not be absent.
He was the Combined Arms Battalion’s backbone.
The personnel and companies moving into the base, plus arranging equipment and supplies, all needed Chen Jun present to sort out.
Others simply lacked the ability to handle such a big setup.
If Chen Jun wasn’t on site controlling the overall situation, whether personnel or equipment and supplies went wrong, it would cause major issues later.
So even with such craving for talent, Chen Jun had to decisively choose.
Thus, with a very regretful tone, he said, “As expected of the Captain, knowing what I want most and valuing me so much.
Unfortunately, the regiment’s work is very important; without me, it probably can’t proceed.
So, Captain, I can only appreciate your kindness; I really can’t continue lazing here and must return to the regiment for work.”
Tie Lu could tell Chen Jun wasn’t making excuses; he really had tasks requiring him to hurry back.
There were plenty of people talking combined arms tactics, but at this stage, for actually building a Combined Arms Battalion, Tie Lu only knew Chen Jun.
Though reluctant, there was no choice.
He could only smile and tease, “Then let me state first: if you’re not here, those eliminated cadets, I can only send back to their original units.”
“Don’t, Captain.”
Chen Jun knew Tie Lu was joking, but he also wanted to leave Tie Lu something to think about, because he had more matters later needing A Brigade.
And big matters!
So he deliberately cooperated in pleading: “Me returning to the regiment to host work doesn’t mean no future cooperation opportunities between us.
Look, I’m still conceptualizing in my mind a complete guide on modern combat special warfare techniques.
Planning to compile all the special warfare technology I’ve comprehended and envisioned over these ten-plus years, by referencing massive military information and records, into a professional lesson plan.
I think A Brigade really needs it; it will definitely help you a lot. If you don’t help, then this would be… too wasteful, right?”
The information Chen Jun threw out was too tempting; Tie Lu was hooked in a second.
Even a straight hook made one unwilling to let go.
His excited eyes bulged round, extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray, and impatiently said, “Chen Jun, you’re not joking, right?”
“Captain, do I look like I’m joking? I only say the truth.” Chen Jun said seriously.
“You only say the truth, my foot.”
Having been fooled by Chen Jun several times, Tie Lu inwardly grumbled about Chen Jun but didn’t dare slack off verbally, more willing to believe it was true.
“Then stay one more week, just one week, write it for me. Once you do, don’t you want A Brigade people? I’ll give them; I can give you three quotas, how’s that?”
Even Tie Lu, who loved his soldiers dearly, was this generous, showing how great the temptation of the special warfare record was to him.
It really was a huge temptation!
In the 1990s, domestic special warfare was just budding, still groping from scout beginnings; everything had to be learned step by step.
Foreign sanctions led by White Eagle were especially strict in this regard.
Wanting to learn from them was very, very difficult.
To build modernized special forces, domestically there was no shortage of brave, hardworking army good men unafraid of death or training, nor military expenses supported by the nation.
The only shortage was various special warfare technologies especially important in modernized special warfare.
The top special warfare techniques were all bloody lessons, honed through actual combat in wars, the most scientific and effective combat techniques.
Domestically without counter-terrorism or war environment, developing special warfare techniques through actual combat was extremely difficult.
Thus A Brigade desperately lacked various special warfare technologies, especially systematic ones able to cope with various combat environments.
If others came to Tie Lu saying they had a complete set of systematized special warfare techniques.
Tie Lu would absolutely kick him and add,
“You see from where that I’m easy to fool?”
But Chen Jun was completely different; he had already produced three theories and turned two into lesson plans, with examples right before the eyes.
No matter how Chen Jun wrote them or how he knew so much modernized special warfare technology.
Tie Lu at least believed Chen Jun really understood!
That was enough!
Chen Jun saw Tie Lu’s eyes glowing green and immediately laughed inwardly.
This was the effect he wanted: to tightly hook Tie Lu, making him crave but unable to have, unable to stop, only led by the nose.
With this as core…
With Tie Lu so impatiently eager now, Chen Jun naturally couldn’t agree.
With a very firm attitude, he said, “Captain, it’s not that I don’t want to help you; it’s really time doesn’t allow. The Combined Arms Battalion is at a critical point.
If something goes wrong here, the impact won’t be just on me; it will be a division, even an entire Group Army.
Moreover, in the short term, under these circumstances, I can’t write it.
I need a quiet environment, with enough space and time, to conceptualize in my mind and write them out.
I think you know too that this kind of thing isn’t something you just casually think up.”
With Chen Jun putting it this way, Tie Lu thought it was indeed so and could only console himself that impatience won’t fatten the pig.
Very helplessly, he said, “Sigh, I’m too hasty. Your work there is indeed very important.”
“Thank you for understanding, Captain.”
Chen Jun smiled and guaranteed, “Rest assured, as soon as I finish this period’s work and have free time, I’ll start writing.
Striving to produce this special warfare techniques collection in the shortest time.”
“That would be too thankful.”
Tie Lu laughed, very happily. To give Chen Jun more power, he proactively promised, “During the Combined Arms Battalion setup, whatever help you need, just say; I’ll support with all my strength.”
“Then thank you in advance, Captain. I believe with your support, the Combined Arms Battalion will surely succeed swiftly.”
After politely thanking Tie Lu, Chen Jun rose to bid farewell: “Time’s about up; I need to hurry back. Opportunity to visit you again.”
“I see you’re in a hurry too. How about this: I’ll arrange a helicopter to send you back.” Tie Lu said.
“This, this wouldn’t be good.” Chen Jun said tactfully.
Helicopter travel, such high-spec treatment, wasn’t for a mere captain deputy company commander like him; it really flattered Chen Jun.
“I say it’s fine, it is.”
Tie Lu said domineeringly, “Go pack in your dormitory; I’ll call to arrange for you.”
“Then thanks, Captain.”
Chen Jun no longer delayed, saluted, then strode out of the dormitory.
At this moment, he really felt a bit urgent, wanting to see the Combined Arms Battalion’s new base with his own eyes.
