Chapter 40: Infiltrating The Radar Base
None of the three knew the specific situation in the valley, as the entire radar base was covered by a camouflage net. The three on the valley edge held binoculars, but their eyes grew sore without seeing anything clear.
“It’s covered too thoroughly. We need to get closer for reconnaissance.”
Chen Guotao put down his binoculars and stated the only feasible method they could think of now.
“Then get closer for reconnaissance,” Chang Ning said.
Everyone knew exactly what the situation on site was; no further explanation was needed.
“Agreed.” Xiao Zhuang also agreed with Chen Guotao’s suggestion.
This was indeed the only way, though the danger factor greatly increased.
No one knew what they would encounter descending into the valley, and even the three were unclear if there were still sentry posts along the way.
The place they were in now was dense with branches and leaves, blocking most of their view.
To see more clearly, they would need to climb to the valley edge to check, but the valley edge was a stretch of exposed sand and gravel.
There was no cover at all up there; going out like that would definitely result in discovery.
“We can only do it at night.”
Chang Ning sighed; he knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
Since they dared to set up the base in such an easily observable position, they naturally had corresponding measures; it was impossible for them to succeed so easily.
“It’s 1 p.m. now. We move at 7 p.m.
Xiao Zhuang, you rested more last night, so you take the first watch today, I’ll take the second, Chang Ning last.
Everyone clear?”
Chen Guotao quickly made a reasonable arrangement based on everyone’s conditions.
“Clear.” ×2
This was no time to show off; Chang Ning hadn’t rested since 10 a.m. yesterday morning, and the evening operation couldn’t afford any mistakes.
So he obeyed Chen Guotao’s order, found a relatively comfortable spot, grabbed a quick bite, held his gun, and entered sleep.
At this time, Gao Zhong Dui and the others were still tracking Chang Ning and his group.
……
“Chang Ning, wake up.”
Vaguely feeling someone pushing him, Chang Ning jolted awake, quickly rolled over, and chambered a bullet. Though his magazine was full of blanks, blanks could still hurt at close range.
“Good grief, your reaction is way too much!”
Chen Guotao was shocked by Chang Ning’s series of actions; he swore he had only gently pushed Chang Ning and done nothing else.
“Sorry, this exercise has me a bit nervous lately.
Before running into you guys, the Blue Team search team was hounding me relentlessly; I couldn’t even sleep soundly.”
After seeing it was Chen Guotao, Chang Ning remembered he was now with his comrades and slowly relaxed.
“Is it my turn to stand guard?”
The winding mountain range obscured most of the sun, unlike its position hanging in the center of the sky; now the sun appeared enormous, making it feel very close to people.
A gentle mountain breeze carried the aroma of cooking smoke from the radar base in the valley.
“It’s your turn.”
With that, Chen Guotao yawned, sat in Chang Ning’s spot leaning against the tree trunk, and fell asleep just like that. He had been exhausted last night too; not everyone had an external aid like Chang Ning.
Mealtime was unified at 6 p.m., leaving one hour until the operation time, when the sun would just be setting.
Chang Ning knew Chen Guotao was looking out for him; otherwise, he would have woken up at 5 p.m., giving everyone exactly two hours each.
He knew this in his heart; no need to say it out loud. They would be together for a long time ahead, and Chen Guotao would need his help someday.
‘Otherwise, after this exercise ends, drag him to the hospital for a checkup and have him stay for a bit?’
Chang Ning was still thinking about Chen Guotao’s ankylosing spondylitis.
Retracting his gaze, he glanced at Xiao Zhuang and Chen Guotao resting behind him, pursed his lips, quietly crawled to the sentry post, picked up the platoon leader’s binoculars left on the ground, and continued staring at the radar base in the valley.
The base was the same as before; aside from the radar antenna tirelessly spinning, not a single moving thing could be seen.
‘Don’t they move around or go to the toilet?’
Chang Ning thought darkly; these radar soldiers must live quite harshly in the valley, even having to follow strict regulations for using the toilet.
Time slowly passed, and the sky fully darkened. By the bright moonlight, Chang Ning figured it was about 7 p.m., so he woke the two sleeping men.
“Time’s up. We need to move fast; we can’t delay any longer. The Blue Team search team might search 322 at any moment.”
Chen Guotao set the tone for this operation, emphasizing that movements needed to be quick—ideally finishing the job before they could react.
“Understood.” ×2
“Move out!”
Speckled moonlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, shining on the three, adding a touch of mystery.
They proceeded smoothly all the way; Chang Ning and the others thought they might encounter a sentry post, but they had overthought it.
Perhaps because this place was in the Blue Team heartland.
When they were about 100 meters from the radar base, they began crawling forward in the weeds.
High-powered searchlights occasionally swept over the three; at those times, they pressed their bodies as close to the ground as possible, with some weeds covering them, which kept Chang Ning and the others from being discovered.
The goddess of luck wouldn’t always favor Chang Ning and his two companions. After crawling to the end of the grass, they discovered a man-made 3-meter-wide isolation strip here.
This measure was clearly to prevent infiltration.
What to do?
The three exchanged glances; they were so close to success, and retreating now left them unwilling.
“Let’s observe first and see if there’s an opportunity.”
Chang Ning signaled to the two.
Seeing Chang Ning’s hand signals, Xiao Zhuang and Chen Guotao agreed with his suggestion.
After observing for nearly half an hour, until 8 p.m., Chang Ning finally spotted a pattern.
“There’s a three-minute time difference between the searchlights and the patrol team.”
Xiao Zhuang was quick-thinking, and Chen Guotao was the professional; they both understood what Chang Ning meant.
Three minutes after the patrol team passed in front of them, the searchlight would sweep over.
Making good use of that time gap was enough for the three to cut the iron wire and infiltrate the camp.
Things went just as smoothly as Chang Ning had planned; they successfully infiltrated the radar base.
But the problem was they didn’t know where the commander’s location was; only there was the most important place in the entire base.
Because confidential documents were all kept there; on the other radar vehicles, aside from the duty personnel, there were only uncrackable messages.
None of the three had experience in this area and couldn’t handle it.
“How about we capture a radar soldier and ask?”
Xiao Zhuang suggested.
If this were real war, Xiao Zhuang’s suggestion might work, but this was an exercise; it would be lucky if they didn’t take the chance to alert their comrades—they couldn’t actually harm them.
