Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Chapter 525: Chapter 525: Mock Battle Exercise

This exercise saw them as the Red side, with another battalion as the Blue side; the main focus was to test individual combat abilities and the coordination among different types of troops within the team.

The location was chosen to be a hill a hundred miles away from the camp.

At ten in the morning, both the Red Army and the Blue Army reached their expected positions. At that moment, three signal flares burst into the sky, and the exercise officially began.

The main objective of this operation was to take out the enemy’s command post; victory would be declared upon achieving this goal because, Qin Jian had given this operation a code name: ”Decapitation Strike”.

Coordinating with the infantry were scouts, signal corps, engineers, and to prevent any unforeseen incidents, medics were also equipped.

The exercise began, expected to last a week.

Everything was ready, and Qin Jian sat in command at his own headquarters.

”This exercise is expected to last seven days, with victory declared upon eliminating the opposing command post. However, we must also account for our operational losses in combat. To this end, I have prepared a detailed combat plan and have given everyone the corresponding explanations. If all goes well, we expect to destroy the Blue Army’s stronghold on the morning of the fifth day.”

”The fifth day??” Battalion Commander Tian Niu expressed his disbelief, ”Chief of Staff, you need to be aware that the enemy has much stronger forces than we do. Isn’t five days a bit exaggerated?”

Qin Jian’s eyebrows furrowed, and his icy gaze sent a chill down Tian Niu’s spine: ”Were these past few months of training for nothing? Anyone who speaks such defeatist words again will be severely dealt with, without leniency.”

The other battalion commanders, seeing the gloom on Qin Jian’s face, dared not say another word.

After assigning the tasks, Qin Jian kept Tian Niu behind.

”Chief of Staff, you... you’re not going to punish me again, are you?”

Qin Jian glanced at him, ”Complete the task I gave you as soon as possible. Do it well, and you won’t be punished; fail it, and the punishment will be severe.”

Tian Niu was genuinely afraid of Qin Jian.

He too had a nickname in the army; everyone called him ’Grim Reaper’, saying he was as tough and foul as a rock in a latrine.

But even he respected Qin Jian.

Qin Jian disciplined him time and again, and each time Tian Niu accepted it.

”Just tell me what to do, Chief of Staff, and I guarantee I’ll complete the mission.”

”Go to the scout company and pick three to five elites. I want you to map out the terrain of the area in the shortest time possible. Avoid all avoidable obstacles and lines of sight, and locate the enemy command post as quickly as you can. I will have them draw the enemy’s attention away from you.” Tian Niu was originally a scout and had battlefield experience, so there was no problem trusting him with this operation.

”This... don’t you realize that you’re putting all the pressure on me now?” Tian Niu suddenly felt a great weight on him.

”I want you to be a dagger hidden in darkness, ready to stab straight into the enemy’s heart when necessary!” Qin Jian said.

”Yes! I guarantee to complete the mission!” Tian Niu said with some lack of confidence.

”What’s the matter? Where’s all your usual bravery gone?” Qin Jian asked with a frown, ”Do you dare make a military pledge with me?”

”This... I guarantee to give it my all.” Tian Niu didn’t dare.

After all, the current troop was not the same as the one from before in the Northern Military Region; the quality of individual soldiers had fallen substantially.

”Coward!” Qin Jian slammed his hand on the command table, ”Fine, don’t make a military pledge. But if you don’t accomplish the task well, your leave to return home this time will be canceled.”

”What?” Tian Niu was stunned, ”Chief of Staff, do you have to be so cruel?”

”Stop talking nonsense! Execute the mission swiftly! Double-time march!” Qin Jian yelled in a low voice.

Tian Niu: ”...” Hmph! As if I didn’t know, that’s just how the regiment commander treats you!

Chief of Staff, must you bully old Tian Niu like this!