Chapter 254: Ma Da Out Of Sorts
“Eight years, that’s not a short time,” Lei Keming sighed.
Before the deputy could change his expression, the next words he heard almost made his heart die.
“As a special operations veteran of eight years, don’t you know that special forces soldiers are not a branch for individual heroism?
Of course, I don’t deny the positive role a technically outstanding comrade in a tactical squad has on the whole.
But that’s just icing on the cake, not a helping hand in dire straits!”
Lei Keming’s tone was calm, and the deputy didn’t hear any blame in it, but the deputy’s face still visibly showed panic.
“Sorry, Captain, I was wrong!”
In Black Tiger, if Commander Lei didn’t like you, the consequences were serious.
At best, you’d be sent back for retraining; at worst, pack up and transfer to logistics.
Such a result falling on a slacker would be like a pie from the sky.
But the deputy had already reached major rank, and staying by Lei Keming’s side meant his future was still bright.
If transferred to logistics, he wouldn’t have much future left.
Moreover, the deputy, who had done special operations for eight years, was a spirited soldier—how could he be content going to logistics?
“Did you find out about what I asked you before?”
Seeing the deputy admit his mistake, Lei Keming let it go; he had no plans to replace his deputy.
They’d worked together for a long time, and he found him easy to work with.
Replacing him would require breaking in a new one and adjusting tempers, and with the whole army in a critical period, he didn’t have time for interpersonal issues.
“I found out.”
The deputy, who had all his energy focused on Lei Keming, responded immediately upon hearing the question.
Heaven knows how anxious he was during those short few seconds.
The Captain had changed the topic, clearly not planning to hold him accountable.
“After multi-faceted investigation and interrogation, plus some of my own guesses, the result is that there’s no one named Chang Ning among the apprehended Red Team special forces soldiers.”
With that, the deputy handed Lei Keming the investigation report he’d prepared.
“Captain, is there something special about this soldier named Chang Ning?”
Having worked together for so many years, it was the first time he’d seen the Captain so concerned about a soldier, so he was very curious.
Could this Chang Ning be some big shot’s junior?
The deputy guessed at Chang Ning’s identity in his mind.
“You’ll know when you see him.”
Lei Keming teased, not telling the deputy the answer directly.
“Two of the missing three are identified now.”
Lei Keming picked up the water cup on the table and took a gentle sip.
Old Gao got away; he wondered if his partner Ma Da was lucky too.
Ma Da and Old Gao were always inseparable like “Jiao inseparable from Meng, Meng inseparable from Jiao,” close like wearing the same pants.
Thinking of this, Lei Keming felt it necessary to confirm if Ma Da was among the apprehended.
There might be a surprise.
“Go confirm if there’s a sturdy, somewhat fat-looking soldier about thirty-four or thirty-five among the apprehended Red Team special forces soldiers.”
Lei Keming described Ma Da’s appearance to the deputy to make confirmation easier.
“Yes!”
Memorizing the Captain’s request, the deputy turned and hurried out of the tent, a scene fully observed by Gao Zhong Dui and Hui Lang, who were already lurking outside the camp.
Black Tiger’s camp was large, with many soldiers bustling between tents like worker ants.
So the two didn’t mark this as key information, treating it as an ordinary event.
“Confirming Lei Keming’s tent in this situation is very difficult.”
Ma Da lowered his binoculars and said to Gao Zhong Dui.
“We’re not here for decapitation strike; why confirm Lei Keming’s tent?”
Gao Zhong Dui had a foxtail grass dangling from his mouth as he rolled his eyes at Ma Da.
“Got too used to decapitation operations, subconsciously looking for the commander’s position.
Look at my memory; forgot we’re here to cause effective casualties.”
Ma Da grinned sheepishly.
Effective casualties was just talk; if he had to name it precisely, it was “suicide attack.”
He and Gao Zhong Dui were here to mess with Lei Keming. With the mindset of breaking even if one, profiting if two.
“To mess with Black Tiger, we have to hit them where it hurts.
How about a fire attack on the connected camps?”
Ma Da offered his suggestion.
“Good plan!” Gao Zhong Dui praised Ma Da’s idea.
“Right? That’s what I think too,” Ma Da said.
“But after burning, we’ll have to go through the military court.
Look at the surroundings—so many places with pine trees.
If the fire starts, this mountain forest will definitely catch too.
Black Tiger Special Forces would really be burned to death by us!
No need to risk lives in an exercise, right, comrade Hui Lang.”
Gao Zhong Dui said irritably, not knowing what was up, but Ma Da seemed to be sleepwalking.
The suggestion was completely thoughtless; he wasn’t usually like this.
“Then what do you say?”
Ma Da slapped away Gao Zhong Dui’s hand reaching for his forehead and asked.
“We infiltrate their camp,” Gao Zhong Dui said.
“What! What’s the difference from suicide? Don’t forget the opponents aren’t ordinary troops—if discovered, we won’t even have a chance to run.”
Ma Da panicked; he disagreed with Gao Zhong Dui’s idea—it was too risky.
“Why panic? I haven’t finished!”
Gao Zhong Dui was amused to anger by Ma Da; his old partner was out of it all day.
“After infiltrating, don’t stir trouble; plant some explosives and slip away.”
Hearing this, Ma Da got it immediately; next was their specialty—this routine he and Gao Zhong Dui had pulled off once in actual combat.
The target then was White Elephant Country’s troops; seemed like they blew up a commander.
Details inconvenient to discuss, involves Secrecy Order.
“Got it, lay a landmine field and lure Black Tiger in.”
Ma Da grinned mischievously, making an “OK” gesture; he really wanted to see Lei Keming’s frustrated face.
Since that guy avenged the Chief of Staff, his life was like cheating, not as fun as when he was a cultural soldier before.
Making an old comrade frustrated was something Gao Zhong Dui and Ma Da were happy to do.
As for where the explosives come from? Obviously from Black Tiger Special Forces soldiers.
Hand grenades are explosives too; landmine setup works just as well.
In a few words, the combat plan was set; the two donned homemade ghillie suits and slowly approached Black Tiger’s camp.
The closer to the camp, the higher the probability of them being discovered.
So Gao Zhong Dui and Ma Da would often suddenly drop prone and motionless during stealth, waiting dozens of minutes before continuing.
