Chapter 17: Training

In the medical room, Xiao Zhuang and Sergeant Lao Pao woke up at the same time. Looking at Sergeant Lao Pao, who seemed even more exhausted than himself, Xiao Zhuang couldn't help but sigh:

"Sergeant Lao Pao, why do you have to act so tough? You don't have the stamina of me and the platoon leader, yet you insist on carrying a sixty-jin load."

Hearing Xiao Zhuang's words, Sergeant Lao Pao's face turned red as he said: "Who's acting tough? I just didn't eat this morning. Otherwise, I wouldn't have collapsed from exhaustion."

Listening to Sergeant Lao Pao continuing to talk tough, Xiao Zhuang didn't expose him, but instead said leisurely: "When I was being carried to the medical room, I seemed to hear, in a daze, one earth-shattering shout."

"Never abandon, never give up."

Sergeant Lao Pao said meaningfully. When they first met, he had only felt that this newly arrived platoon leader had no real skills and only knew how to say polite, formal things.

If they were to compete, he would surely be stronger than him. Precisely because of this defiant attitude, no platoon leader in the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company was willing to take him.

As a capable and strong soldier, he could only choose to do the company commander's clerical work.

In his view, the army was a place for the strong, not for goody-goody Mr. s like Guo Jing who only knew how to say nice things and had no real ability.

In this five-kilometer cross-country assessment, he was eager to surpass Guo Jing.

When he excitedly turned his head to look back at Guo Jing, who was running at the very rear of the whole company,

seeing the four-times load on his body—an eighty-jin load—the pride and contempt in his heart were shattered to pieces.

He had lost, lost completely. Whether in stamina or in breadth of mind, he had lost. He hurried back to help the fallen recruits carry their loads.

After picking up the loads of two men, the load on his body became sixty jin, while Guo Jing's load was a full one hundred jin.

Looking at the lost and dejected Sergeant Lao Pao, Xiao Zhuang said earnestly: "Sergeant, I now truly believe you would take a bullet for us on the battlefield."

"What? You still don't believe what I said? I, Sergeant Lao Pao, am a man of my word."

Sergeant Lao Pao got anxious on the spot.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, Sergeant Lao Pao. I already believe you now."

Xiao Zhuang quickly tried to appease him.

Sergeant Lao Pao gave a cold snort, then turned over and lay down. But inwardly he thought: "I also believe you would take a bullet for me."

Meanwhile, on the other side at the Iron Fist Regiment, when Commander Kang saw Nie Huaishang, he excitedly asked: "So you're the one who beat Fan Tianlei? Tell me how you won."

Looking at Commander Kang, who was so nosy, Nie Huaishang couldn't help feeling a bit awkward, but still told the story according to the facts.

Hearing how Nie Huaishang had left Fan Tianlei speechless and successfully snatched people right from under Fan Tianlei's nose, Commander Kang couldn't help but pound the table and cheer.

"Fine. This month you're the company commander of the recruit company. If you do well, I'll let you be the company commander of the Sharpshooter Fourth Company."

Commander Kang decided on the spot. The merit of orchestrating the killing of Black Cat alone was enough to raise Nie Huaishang's military rank by one grade, but the Sharpshooter Fourth Company was the Iron Fist Regiment's ace unit.

"Um, Commander Kang, you'd better think it over carefully."

Nie Huaishang felt he had to give Commander Kang a reminder.

"Setting everything else aside, just the fact that you could snatch people from Fan Tianlei's hands—I admire you for that."

"So that's how you became the recruit company commander. That doesn't add up either. Military academy graduates are usually only first lieutenants, right? If you want to be a company commander, your rank isn't high enough."

Political Instructor Gong Jian asked curiously.

"Because I assisted the military in capturing K2 organization leader Black Cat, I'm currently a captain."

Nie Huaishang gave an explanation. Of course, "assisted" was just being polite—Black Cat's downfall was mainly Nie Huaishang's doing.

But even assisting the military in capturing Black Cat was already a major feat; after all, Black Cat was a renowned figure internationally.

"Looks like our Iron Fist Regiment has gained two more elite soldiers."

Gong Jian couldn't help but praise him. Although the other party was relatively young, his combat record was in no way inferior to his own as a veteran.

As for Zhang Xiaofan, he was appointed as the deputy company commander of the recruit company.

"Damn, Huaishang, you're here too?"

He Chenguang and Wang Yanbing stepped forward to punch Nie Huaishang in the chest, but were loudly stopped by Gong Jian.

"What do you think you're doing? This is a military camp, not Liangshan Marsh. Do you have any sense of military discipline? This is your recruit company commander."

Hearing Gong Jian's words, He Chenguang was stunned, and Wang Yanbing stammered:

"Oh my goodness, just graduated and already a company commander? Huaishang, you're really amazing."

Li Erniu was also shocked: "Huaishang, just graduated and you're already a captain?"

Seeing their shocked expressions, Nie Huaishang just smiled and said: "Alright, let's talk personal matters in private later. In the military camp, we still need to observe military discipline."

"Yes, Company Commander!"

The three of them saluted Nie Huaishang together, then strode away.

Watching the three leave, Nie Huaishang said to Gong Jian beside him: "Those three are all good soldiers. I want to reserve three slots for them. Otherwise, we'll definitely regret it."

"You're the company commander. I'll follow your lead."

Gong Jian didn't refuse either.

Nie Huaishang was also quite excited inside. He hadn't expected that upon just arriving at the Iron Fist Regiment, he was about to become the company commander of the Sharpshooter Fourth Company.

But how should he use the condition of having beaten Fan Tianlei? He'd save it for the military district grand competition and capture Fan Tianlei alive then.

If he really tries to welch on the deal then, they won't be polite about it.

After familiarizing himself with the affairs of the military camp, Nie Huaishang invited the three out. Just as they were about to salute, Nie Huaishang interrupted them:

"Alright, there's no recruit company commander here now, only your good brother Nie Huaishang."

Hearing Nie Huaishang say this, the three excitedly asked their respective questions:

"Huaishang, I remember the highest you can be after graduating from military academy is deputy company commander. How did you become company commander?"

"Huaishang, how come you're in the same company as us?"

"Alright, I'll answer your questions now."

Nie Huaishang responded gently.

So he told them about how he had assisted the military in capturing Black Cat. After hearing it, He Chenguang and Wang Yanbing were filled with regret.

He Chenguang immediately declared:

"Nie Huaisang, you're not being fair. Why didn't you call me for this? My marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat are both excellent."

"Yes, Nie Huaisang, you're not being fair. I could have helped too."

Wang Yanbing said with a face full of regret.

Nie Huaishang said with deep apology:

"I'm sorry. The situation arose suddenly; I could only set up the plan quickly and didn't have time to call you."

"As for why I came here, it is to honor the agreement between us and to form the best company."

At this, the four exchanged glances and smiled at each other.

On the other side, under Guo Jing's leadership, Xiao Zhuang and the others proceeded in an orderly manner.

To avoid dragging down their comrades, every soldier trained desperately.

By the fourth day alone, the entire platoon had passed the passing line.

Although this was because many people like Xiao Zhuang and Sergeant Lao Pao, who had extra strength, helped out.

But the improvement in the platoon's overall strength was obvious to all; most commendably, this platoon had already begun to develop cohesion.