Chapter 142: A Junior Platoon Leader, Giving You Face, Right?

"Can't go, no, can't go, I can't run!"

On the track, Chen Panpan gasped heavily, slowly collapsing to her knees as if she were dying.

Before Cheng Jun could speak, Lu Yang already slowed down voluntarily and, from behind, pulled Chen Panpan up from the ground.

"Brother Yang, I can't, I really can't run any more."

Chen Panpan, drenched in sweat, kept begging Lu Yang to let them rest for a while.

But Lu Yang refused; even if he had to pull them while walking, they still had to finish the five kilometers.

Since the lower echelon, the training difficulty has been upgraded; three kilometers became five kilometers.

For Motorized Infantry, a five‑kilometer run is only a basic warm‑up.

Here, there are countless leg‑tormenting methods; a simple running drill in Sixth Company is as varied as the way Yunguichuan cooks potatoes, with endless variations.

In Sixth Company, three five‑kilometer runs a day are routine; on weekends they may add a ten‑kilometer run for a simple celebration.

On statutory holidays, it's even more intense: a 15‑ to 20‑kilometer armed cross‑country run.

The goal is to train every soldier toward the direction of a humanoid motorcycle.

After all, on the battlefield, vehicles run out of fuel and tanks get damaged.

At such times, the only thing to rely on is two legs.

The essence of war, ultimately, is a fight between people.

During the Korean War aid period, the rapid march at Sansuo Village was hailed by countless domestic and foreign military experts as the pinnacle of light infantry, a battle that could not be understood or replicated.

In war, the key is to catch the enemy off guard and win by surprise.

When others think that destroying roads and vehicles will crush your morale.

You have already used a pair of fleet feet to flank successfully, ready to annihilate the enemy in one blow.

This is the advantage of high mobility and high concealment, the very reason Motorized Infantry units have persisted to this day.

"I'm pulling you; it's fine to go slower, but you can't stop!"

Lu Yang took his rifle and slung it over his own body.

At the same time, he used the gun strap as a tow rope, tossing it behind for Chen Panpan to grab.

Then Lu Yang switched to 'old ox plowing' mode, pulling Chen Panpan forward from the front.

Thus, he not only eased her burden but also saved a lot of effort.

The veterans of Third Squad watched, their expressions actually quite complicated.

On one hand, they acknowledge Lu Yang's ability and admire his character and sense of responsibility.

On the other hand, concerned about the veterans' face, they are unwilling to call him Assistant Squad Leader in front of outsiders.

People are always petty, always valuing face above all, even though Lu Yang's skill is indeed impressive.

But genuine acceptance, letting Liu Ziqiang and others willingly shout that Assistant Squad Leader title, still requires time to catalyze and further team cohesion.

Cheng Jun watched Lu Yang pulling others forward at a slow pace, full of confidence in him, the Second Platoon, and the future of Sixth Company.

However, when his gaze swept to the other side, he couldn't help but frown.

Because among the exhausted new recruits on the track, there was a particularly conspicuous fellow.

Clearly bearing a two‑star Lieutenant rank on his shoulder, yet performing terribly.

His physical ability was almost on par with these freshly‑arrived raw recruits.

Lu Yang also noticed that fellow, First Platoon Leader Kang Changyi, who is also Zhou Kaidong's superior.

Even before the lower echelon, Lu Yang had already heard about this Kang Platoon Leader.

He is said to be a paper tiger, leveraging connections within the Division to be placed in the heroic Special Third Regiment for gilding.

Seventh Company's Guo Yongwen, originally only needed to safely lead the sniper training unit, which would likely strip the 'acting' title and fulfill his long‑held wish to be formally promoted.

But because this Kang Platoon Leader reneged at the last minute, staying instead of being transferred, Guo Yongwen's promotion slot was ruined.

The lower echelon has been two days, and since they're not in the same platoon, Lu Yang hasn't interacted much with him.

However, during the bulletin board posting, this fellow ran over to make a splash, offering many 'constructive suggestions.'

Given his high rank, Lu Yang gladly accepted the 'proposal,' then chose to reject them all.

The brief contact also let him see that this First Platoon Leader is the typical type: lacking ability but loves to talk.

He is said to have repeatedly strongly suggested canceling one of the three daily five‑kilometer runs in Sixth Company and converting all to three kilometers.

His reasoning: excessive running can cause knee injuries; the training method is unscientific.

Regarding this, Lu Yang thinks the First Platoon Leader is a bit clueless.

He is still stuck in the military academy's 'conventional learning mode,' never moving from books to practice, unaware that a soldier's purpose is to fight.

Indeed, the unit has many unscientific trainings, some even appearing cruel and dangerous.

But its purpose is to make soldiers adapt to hardship and conquer fear.

If daily training strictly followed scientific standards, the unit would become a massive gym, and Kong Long would literally die of pleasure, wouldn't he?

The First Platoon Leader's performance is just like a freshly graduated yet overconfident college graduate, going to job interviews and constantly emphasizing to employers that he once served as student‑government president and won irrelevant debate awards.

"How about it, pulling one person, can you still run?"

Zhou Kaidong, leading Third Squad from behind, circled around and asked Lu Yang a question.

Lu Yang turned his head to look behind at the desperate‑looking Chen Panpan and smiled.

"It's actually fine; once you adapt slowly, it'll be okay."

"Kid, step it up; see how your Assistant Squad Leader drags you down, you can't let him be your platoon's hind leg!"

Zhou Kaidong's words still had a strong effect, instantly striking Chen Panpan's fragile and sensitive self‑esteem.

He envies Lu Yang, wanting to be a soldier as noticed as Lu Yang, but his ability can't keep up.

If next week, Third Squad gets excluded because he fails to earn the Moving Red Flag, he'll definitely be ostracized by the whole class.

Chen Panpan doesn't want to hold back the whole squad because of themselves; they're also fed up with being the last one.

"Brother Lu Yang, I want to run on my own!"

Having said that, Chen Panpan let go and prepared to take the gun back from Lu Yang.

But Lu Yang didn't give it to them; instead, he told them that progress is a step‑by‑step process.

When you have that determination, when you wish to change and improve, you have already taken the first step.

"I'll hold the gun for you; you just keep up with my pace, and we'll run to the finish together."

"The speed can be slower, but you can't stop; you'll get used to it gradually."

"Yes, Brother Lu Yang."

Chen Panpan no longer pretends to be tough and runs with full concentration.

They start adjusting their state according to the Squad Leader's earlier teaching: one breath out every three steps, one breath in every two steps.

Zhou Kaidong watches this and feels very gratified; the spirit of the unit lies in inheritance and transmission.

Lu Yang was able to become Deputy Squad Leader right after joining the regiment, not only because of his outstanding performance and solid skill level in the New Recruit Company, but also because he can proactively influence and inspire others.

This makes Zhou Kaidong inevitably think of Kong Long and Ding Tengfei, those two kids; he also wonders how they're doing after being assigned to a new unit after the regiment, whether they've adapted, whether they can get used to it.

After the five‑kilometer warm‑up ends and a brief rest, Zhou Kaidong formally begins the afternoon training curriculum.

"Rest is almost over; the afternoon training starts with Reverse Drills, which are the fundamentals of Grappling Techniques."

"Especially the recruits, you must watch carefully and memorize each of my movements…"

After Zhou Kaidong finishes the demonstration and prepares to start the training formally, a panting, wheezing voice interrupts.

"What? You just wait a moment."

The First Platoon Leader Kang Changyi clutches his side, out of breath, and walks over from the side.

"I'll say just a few words, quickly…"

"Everyone, get ready!"

Zhou Kaidong doesn't give him a chance at all, forcibly cuts him off, and orders the soldiers to prepare for training.

Kang Changyi froze, explaining: "Squad Leader, I'll just say a couple of sentences, it'll be over soon. Next week the Regiment is holding a cultural performance, our Platoon needs to present a program, and I'm thinking of having you and the First Squad perform a skit…"

"Stop, stop, stop." Zhou Kaidong makes a pause gesture, turns his head back to him bluntly: "First Platoon Leader, this is drill time, it's for training, not for you to …"

Kang Changyi immediately gets upset: "I'm just saying a couple of sentences, is it really a problem to delay you for a moment?"

"Not allowed!"

"No, Squad Leader, are you still treating this like a New Recruit Company, taking yourself as a new‑training Platoon Leader? What kind of attitude is this, how can you speak to me like that?"

"What? During drill time I focus on training, is there a problem? Can't anything wait until after evening training, during rest?"

"I have nothing else at night? I need to do it now…"

"Then I tell you, if I can't speak, I can't speak!"

Zhou Kaidong shows no patience, directly rushes to the unit and orders: "Everyone, from left to right, fall forward in order, spread your arms!"

Kang Changyi gapes: "Zhou Kaidong, don't treat bean curd as dry food, don't treat the village chief as a cadre!"

Zhou Kaidong glances at him, his mouth moving.

Without uttering a sound, his mouth shape perfectly conveys two words.

Idiot!