Chapter 82: Eagle Strikes the Vast Sky

The sky just began to lighten, thin mist floated in the valley, like torn cotton fluff.

Li Ping'an stood on the drill ground, looking at the ten carefully selected members before him. Each stood ramrod straight, their eyes holding a hint of ferocity.

"From today on, you are the Flying Eagle Team." Li Ping'an's voice rang especially clear in the morning mist, "Do you know why it's called the Flying Eagle?"

Er Gazi blurted out, "Because eagles fly high and see far!"

"Right, but not entirely." Li Ping'an swept his gaze over everyone, "An eagle isn't just high-flying; it also needs sharp talons and a sure strike. From now on, you will be the Anti-Japanese Alliance's sharpest claws."

The training ground was set in a secluded valley, surrounded by dense forest, impossible for outsiders to find. Li Ping'an brought over the training methods he had seen in TV dramas from his previous life, adding his own innovations.

The first day of concealment training already made everyone endure a lot of hardship.

"Remember, concealment isn't playing dead." Li Ping'an said while demonstrating, "You must be like a rock, like a tree stump, making yourself blend with the surroundings."

Er Gazi lay prone in the snow, shivering from the cold, "Instructor, how long do we have to stay down?"

"Stay down until the enemy walks past without noticing you." Li Ping'an left no room for doubt, "On the battlefield, a little carelessness means death."

In the afternoon they practiced hand-to-hand combat; Li Ping'an simplified the lethal techniques of Eight Extremes Fist and taught them to everyone.

"This move, the Lifting Yin Palm, specifically targets the enemy's crotch." Li Ping'an gestured, "What martial virtue on the battlefield? Anything that kills the enemy is a good move!"

The members burst out laughing, yet they studied it especially seriously.

In the evening cultural lesson, Li Ping'an personally taught them to recognize characters and draw maps. Most of these were rough soldiers; their gun-holding hands trembled as they picked up a pen.

"Instructor, what's the use of learning this?" a member couldn't help asking.

"What use?" Li Ping'an picked up a piece of chalk, "I ask you: if you were sent to scout enemy positions but couldn't draw a clear map, how would you report? If you couldn't read the enemy's documents, how would you gather intelligence?"

The members fell silent, each burying their head in study.

Days passed, the Flying Eagle Team's training grew harsher. Before dawn each day they did weighted cross-country runs, then practiced hand-to-hand combat, in the afternoon they worked on concealment and camouflage, and at night they studied cultural lessons. Li Ping'an also specially added one item: wilderness survival.

"Today I'll teach you how to find food in the snow." Li Ping'an led the team into the woods, "Look closely—under this bark there's a tender layer that can stave off hunger. These wild fruits may be sour, but they replenish energy…"

Er Gazi couldn't help asking, "Instructor, how do you know all this?"

Li Ping'an smiled, "Read it in books."

Actually it wasn't from books; it was all learned from special forces TV dramas in his previous life. He never expected it to come in handy now.

Training was tough, but the food was beyond reproach. Li Ping'an every few days led people into the mountains to hunt—wild boar, deer, foolish roe deer…—they never came back empty-handed. The mess hall's Old Wangtou grinned ear to ear: 'Following Instructor Li, our mess hall is practically turning into a butcher shop!'

One month later, the Flying Eagle Team faced its first practical combat assessment.

Li Ping'an divided the ten members into two groups—one posing as Japanese soldiers, the other as the Anti-Japanese Alliance—and conducted an opposition drill.

"Remember, treat the drill as real combat." Li Ping'an emphasized, "Anyone who slacks off shouldn't blame me for making them train extra."

The drill began, and the group playing the Anti-Japanese Alliance was quickly 'annihilated'.

Li Ping'an's face darkened: 'Do you know why you lost?'

The members lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

"Because you're still using old thinking!" Li Ping'an raised his voice, "The Flying Eagle Team isn't a regular unit; we need surprise, we need to strike the unprepared! Again!"

The second round of the drill improved considerably, but it was still insufficient.

Li Ping'an wasn't rushed either; he repeatedly led them in review, summary, and improvement. Gradually, the members began to get the feel of it.

During a break in training that day, Er Gazi came over: 'Instructor, we've trained this long—when can we fight for real with live weapons?'

Li Ping'an chuckled, '"Why rush? Sharpening the knife doesn't delay the woodcutting."'

Just then, Political Commissioner Zhou Zhengwei hurried over: 'Comrade Li, there's a mission.'

Intelligence showed that a Japanese supply convoy would pass through Heifeng Gou tomorrow, escorting winter cotton clothing and medicine.

"That's good stuff." Squad Leader Yang's eyes lit up, "We're just lacking these."

Li Ping'an studied the map, pondering: 'Heifeng Gou's terrain is treacherous, ideal for an ambush. It's a perfect chance for the Flying Eagle Team to get some practice.'

Zhou Zhengwei worried: 'They've only trained for a little over a month—will they be okay?'

"Don't worry." Li Ping'an said confidently, "This is just the right time to test our training results."

At midnight, the Flying Eagle Team set out silently. The ten moved like ghosts through the mountains and forests, making not a sound.

Li Ping'an personally led the team, continually demonstrating how to move covertly, how to use the terrain, and how to relay signals.

Upon reaching Heifeng Gou before dawn, Li Ping'an quickly assigned tasks: 'Er Gazi, take three men and ambush on the eastern high ground to provide fire suppression. The rest follow me and ambush on the western side, waiting for the signal to act.'

The members took position swiftly, each concealed just right, blending perfectly with the surroundings.

The sky gradually lightened; in the distance came the sound of vehicle engines. A Japanese supply convoy slowly entered Heifeng Gou.

Er Gazi's palms sweated from nervousness—this was their first real combat.

Li Ping'an whispered a reminder: 'Stay calm, wait for my signal.'

When the convoy had fully entered the kill zone, Li Ping'an gave the order: 'Fire!'

Instantly gunfire roared, grenades exploded among the convoy. The Japanese were caught off guard, thrown into chaos.

"Charge!" Li Ping'an leapt from cover first, the members following close behind.

The battle ended quickly; the Japanese force was wiped out. The Flying Eagle Team suffered no casualties and seized a large amount of supplies.

While clearing the battlefield, Er Gazi ran over excitedly: 'Instructor, we succeeded!'

Li Ping'an frowned, however: 'Success? Look over there.'

Following his gesture, Er Gazi saw that several Japanese corpses had bullet holes only on the front.

"What does that show?" Li Ping'an asked, "It shows you're still conducting a frontal assault, not exploiting the advantages of special operations! If there were more enemy troops, could you guarantee a clean withdrawal?"

The members said nothing; the excitement from moments ago vanished instantly.

On the way back to camp, the atmosphere grew somewhat gloomy. Li Ping'an noticed, his tone softening: 'Still, for a first real battle, doing this well isn't bad. Tonight I'll treat you to extra rations.'

"Good!" the members replied, becoming lively again.

That evening, Li Ping'an had the mess hall prepare several extra dishes and brought out a bottle of wine he had been saving.

"Today, although there were problems, overall it wasn't bad." Li Ping'an raised his cup, "Come, let's toast the Flying Eagle Team's first victory!"

The atmosphere grew lively, everyone chatting and laughing as they discussed the daytime battle.

Er Gazi had drunk a bit too much, he came over and asked, "Instructor, how do you know so much about fighting?"

Li Ping'an smiled: "I read it in a book."

"What book? That amazing? I want to see it too."

Li Ping'an gazed at the dancing firelight and said softly: "A book… a very special one."

Night deepened, everyone fell asleep. Li Ping'an sat alone by the fire, taking out a small notebook to record today's battle summary.

Zhou Zhengwei came over at some point and said, "Still summarizing?"

"Mm." Li Ping'an didn't look up, "When you find a problem you must correct it promptly. Special Forces aren't ordinary troops; any oversight could be fatal."

Zhou Zhengwei sat beside him: "Superior command already knows about today's battle. Yan'an sent a commendation, saying this is a new model of rear‑area warfare, and wants us to properly sum up the experience."

Li Ping'an nodded: "This is just the beginning. The Flying Eagle Team still has a lot to learn."

"What are your plans?"

"Next we'll focus on night‑time operations and enemy‑rear infiltration." Li Ping'an said, "We also need to teach them demolition, communications, first aid… there's a lot to learn."

Zhou Zhengwei patted his shoulder: "Take it slow, don't be too impatient."

Li Ping'an gazed at the star‑filled sky and suddenly asked, "Commissar, when the war of resistance is won, what can we soldiers do?"

Zhou Zhengwei laughed: "Build the new China! By then, you educated and capable ones will be the nation's precious treasures."

Li Ping'an also laughed. He had been in this world almost a year, from initial confusion to present steadiness, finally finding his place and worth.

"By the way," Zhou Zhengwei recalled something, "your party membership application has been approved. From now on you are an official Communist Party member."

Li Ping'an stared for a moment, then solemnly nodded: "I will surely not betray the organization's trust."

The next day, Li Ping'an got up especially early. He walked around the camp and finally stopped at the edge of the training field.

The troops arrived at the training field one after another; seeing Li Ping'an they all stared for a moment. Today's instructor seemed somewhat different, but they couldn't pinpoint exactly how.

"Assemble!" Li Ping'an shouted loudly.

The troops quickly formed ranks and stood ready.

"Starting today we have a new training subject." Li Ping'an glanced at each person, "I will teach you how to fight at night as if blind, how to disguise as Japanese soldiers to infiltrate strongholds, and how to use explosive packs to take out pillboxes…"

The troops' eyes lit up—these are genuine skills!

On the training field the slogans rang out again, louder and more forceful than before.

Li Ping'an looked at this group of ever more capable soldiers, his heart full of hope. The Flying Eagle Team had just taken off; the road ahead is still long.

In the distance, a red sun rose from the mountain peak, illuminating the whole valley.