Chapter 157: The Soldiers' Iron Foot Unit Has Long Been Hard‑Pressed

Come on, come on, come on!

Little Zhang, you can do it, run!

Lao Sun, you damn fool, why are you lagging behind, run!

Compared with the competing runners on the track who chase each other, the comrades watching from the sidelines are even more excited.

Some even chased after their fellow competitors, cheering with the loudest voices.

If the staff maintaining order hadn't intervened in time, they'd probably all have rushed onto the track and run the whole course together.

At this moment on the track, Lu Yang paced himself calmly within the formation, neither conspicuous nor flashy.

He constantly kept a rhythm of exhaling every three steps and inhaling every two steps; the more unremarkable he seemed, the more pressure it put on others who knew his unit.

It's like meeting a provincial team specialist at a high school sports meet; even if they start off modestly, no one dares to underestimate them.

Lu Yang ignored others' opinions of him and instead focused his attention on the front‑most competitor.

The one in first place wasn't someone else; it was the first‑class Non‑commissioned Officer who had earlier rolled up his trousers to show off his muscles.

Also a Motorized Infantryman, that guy displayed great speed and explosiveness from the start and held the lead steadily.

At that moment, he was about fifty meters ahead of Lu Yang; the gap seemed large, but could be closed in the middle to later stages.

The second, third, and fourth runners behind also had steady strides and were all Non‑commissioned Officers, apparently veteran "old sticks" of the regiment, each with some competition experience.

As for the minority Private, he is currently in sixth place, very close to fifth.

However, Lu Yang estimated that the man, like himself, hadn't given his all yet.

He was probably waiting for the final lap to unleash an explosive sprint and overtake.

The 5‑kilometer differs from the 3‑kilometer; it's longer in time and distance, requiring soldiers to plan their stamina in advance.

The more aggressively one starts, the greater the stamina drain, making it harder to sustain in the middle and later stages.

Therefore, what Lu Yang needs now is not to rush, but to proceed steadily.

He analyzes others' general ability levels to calculate the timing of his own explosive sprint.

Running isn't just about keeping your head down and moving forward; it also requires proper planning and some psychological tactics.

Those Olympic athletes, sprint and middle‑distance champions, actually deal with this knowledge during professional training.

Coincidentally, when Lu Yang was intensifying his leg‑running training, he asked He Zhen Tao to fetch relevant professional books for him.

As the saying goes, a craftsman must first sharpen his tools; even though he has external aids, Lu Yang still habitually makes double preparations.

Has the 5‑kilometer over there already started?

On the viewing platform sat the senior officers of the 74th Division and the Regiment.

The man seated in the center, about forty, held the rank of Colonel and the position of Deputy Division, and was Division Chief of Staff Xiong Yao.

I wonder who will claim the top result of this 5‑kilometer race?

Someone has already raised a telescope and looked over there.

I recall the soldier leading the pack; I think he was from the 305th Regiment, who previously competed in the military sports meet and earned a third‑place result?

No wonder he surged ahead so fast; looks like the first place in the 5‑kilometer belongs to the 305th Regiment?

The 305th Regiment's Regiment Commander laughed heartily, bowed, and said.

I graciously accept; I only resorted to a trump card out of necessity.

Huh, why is the sixth one a Private? Looks like he's preparing to accelerate and overtake?

He's a new recruit just enlisted in winter, his speed and stamina are outstanding, which regiment is he from?

He's a new soldier of our 441st Regiment, named Zashi Nima, a Tibetan who grew up on the plateau since childhood.

Not to brag, but so far I haven't seen any new recruit with better physical condition than Zashi!

No wonder he's so impressive; you're being a bit cheeky, everyone knows Tibetan kids ride horses, shoot arrows, and have great lung capacity.

Looks like each of your two regiments has claimed one of the top three spots?

Division Chief of Staff Xiong Yao teased with a smile, and the two Regiment Commanders didn't decline.

After all, the reality is there; their soldiers truly each have strengths, securing stable rankings.

At this moment, Xiong Yao turned his head, fixing his gaze on the usually silent Special Third Regiment Regiment Commander Wang Zhongxi, who was like a closed gourd.

Old Wang, why are you silent this time? Your regiment used to be the hot favorite for the championship?

Hehe, I think, taking positions in the 5‑kilometer every time is...

Wang Zhongxi was being modest, but to the ears of the other regiment leaders it sounded a bit sarcastic and boastful.

In fact, in past large competitions, whether it was the 3‑kilometer weighted race or the 5‑kilometer unarmed.

As long as the Iron Foot troops of the Special Third Regiment Sixth Company are present, other units find it hard to stand out.

Therefore, in this event, they have long been the hard‑pressed Iron Foot unit of the Special Third Regiment.

This time Wang Zhongxi's uncharacteristically low profile, even not joining the discussion, perhaps he lacks confidence?

It also gave the other regiment leaders a chance to counterattack and turn the tide.

Old Wang, the soldiers who previously won the championship for you, aren't they...

Among the remaining, none can take the main beam; the new recruits we trained also lack...

If that's the case, it's a pity; since you don't want the 5‑kilometer ranking this time, we'll take it.

Facing the other regiment leaders' sarcastic remarks, Wang Zhongxi still kept his smiling, good‑natured demeanor.

Leave this ranking here; if you want it, take it, I'm not going to fight you over it.

Victory and defeat are common in warfare; there are no evergreen trees, no always‑victorious generals.

Wang Zhongxi kept his posture low enough, appearing non‑confrontational, leaving others with no recourse.

On the contrary, Division Chief of Staff Xiong Yao noticed that Wang Zhongxi this time seemed overly low‑key.

Either the Regiment truly has a talent shortage and can't find anyone to win the championship, or this old kid is just putting on a show.

Just as Xiong Yao was pondering, he suddenly saw Wang Zhongxi holding a telescope, and his mouth twitched upward.

Xiong Yao likewise lifted the telescope in his hand and looked toward the field.

The 5‑kilometre race was already past the halfway point, with two kilometres left; at first he saw nothing noteworthy.

Suddenly, he noticed a soldier accelerating; in just a few breaths, the runner broke away from the middle of the pack into the top ten.

The rank rose swiftly, and in the blink of an eye he was side by side with the Tibetan soldier called Zha Xi Ni Ma.

"Hm?"

Zha Xi hadn't expected someone to appear beside him all of a sudden?

The track is so wide, yet the opponent stays so close to the rival; that makes him uncomfortable?

Zha Xi tried to speed up to shake off Lu Yang, but found he couldn't create any distance.

This gave him a hint of pressure, and he began an all‑out explosive acceleration.

Life on the steppe, with tsampa, milk, and butter tea, gave him endurance and explosiveness beyond ordinary people.

Zha Xi Ni Ma's speed suddenly erupted, and in a flash he overtook several veterans ahead and reached second place.

Looking to the left, that annoying guy was indeed left behind; just as he silently breathed a sigh of relief, footsteps came from the right.

Zha Xi Ni Ma suddenly turned his head to the right, only to see Lu Yang grinning, laughing straight at him…