Chapter 168: Exchange Terms, Mutual Learning and Progress

441st Regiment, Artillery 9th Company.

On the track, a veteran Squad Leader is leading the team in training.

Artillery daily training includes not only basic physical fitness but also a lot of artillery‑related professional knowledge.

Soldiers who have just finished a 5 km run are immediately required to carry a 50‑kilogram Type 66 152mm howitzer shell for a relay run.

The reason for such grueling training is that after ammunition is delivered to the designated spot, manual handling and loading are required.

If even a 50‑kilogram shell can't be moved, loading and firing efficiency will naturally suffer greatly.

Although a few elite units have already been equipped with automated loading artillery.

The Type 66 152mm gun‑howitzer, developed in the last century, remains the mainstream for domestic firepower units due to its ruggedness and durability.

"Squad Leader, Squad Leader!"

Squad Leader Zhang prepared to start the timed training when the tall, lanky Zhao Chuanwu ran over to this side.

Squad Leader Zhang, surprised, asked: "What's up, something?"

Zhao Chuanwu asked: "A friend of mine is looking for me; can I bring him in for a look?"

Squad Leader Zhang hesitated: "Is the friend from your hometown or a family relative? Just register and pick up a pass at the guesthouse; outsiders aren't allowed to tour the base, you know that."

Zhao Chuanwu laughed and explained: "He's not a hometown friend, he's a soldier from the Special Third Regiment; I met him at the division competition, the one who knocked out the Third Squad Tibetan Zaxi Nima during the 5 km race."

Squad Leader Zhang, surprised, said: "You mean the recruit No. 68?"

Zhao Chuanwu, surprised, replied: "Squad Leader, you actually remember?"

"Obviously, that kid is this year's dark horse in the division competition!"

"First in the 5 km run, second in precision shooting; the two top snipers from our regiment and the neighboring regiment who were championship favorites were both taken down by him!"

"Where is he? Let's go together; I want to see what this recruit looks like to have such ability."

Squad Leader Zhang assigned the Assistant Squad Leader to oversee the training, and he himself followed Zhao Chuanwu toward the main gate.

Zhao Chuanwu took first place in the retreat‑step shell‑handling event, even breaking the record; he is the undisputed pride of the battalion.

He originally thought his troops this time would surely make a name across the whole division, but he didn't expect everyone to be talking about how formidable the Special Third Regiment's "68" dark horse was.

Whether it's running or throwing grenades, they're essentially physical‑ability events; a guy like the Third Squad Tibetan Zaxi Nima, who has innate talent, easily scores well.

But precision shooting isn't that simple; it's a bona‑fide military skill that requires a lot of effort and time to hone.

On the battlefield, how accurate one's shooting is determines the ceiling of one's merit performance.

Soon, Squad Leader Zhang and Zhao Chuanwu arrived at the gate, and the first thing that caught the eye was an extremely flashy red motorcycle.

Then, riding the bike, wearing a full‑face helmet, was Lu Yang, looking like a futuristic warrior, ultra‑cool.

Zhao Chuanwu's eyes widened: "Whoa, this is your bike? That's freaking awesome!"

Lu Yang took off his helmet and stepped down: "This is my Company Commander's bike; I'm borrowing it for a couple of days."

He turned his head and saw the veteran who had come out with Zhao Chuanwu already gathered in front of the bike.

He caressed the bike's lines with rapt fascination, even squatting down to stare intently at the exhaust pipe and brake calipers.

"Ducati V4, four‑cylinder four‑stroke water‑cooled engine, 1000 cc displacement, six‑speed gearbox!"

"Showa fully tuned 43 mm chrome‑plated BPF inverted front fork, top‑notch damping; dual brake discs with ABS system, plus an aerodynamic kit..."

"My god, this is literally my dream bike!"

Lu Yang could tell that the veteran was very knowledgeable.

Being familiar with these specs shows he must be an enthusiast.

Zhao Chuanwu introduced proactively: "This is Lu Yang, Special Third Regiment Sixth Company, Motorized Infantry; and this is my Squad Leader, Old Zhang, a veteran motorcycle enthusiast."

Squad Leader Zhang reached out to Lu Yang, gave a firm handshake, but his eyes never left the flaming‑red Ducati.

Lu Yang wasn't worried that he might ride off in excitement; after all, he had already removed the key.

Old Zhang could at most touch it; he couldn't ride it away.

"Won't I be disturbing your training?"

"I happen to be off today."

"Hehe, I'm taking two days off."

Both of them have won awards in the division competition.

One award gives a day off, two awards give two days off—makes sense.

Zhao Chuanwu greeted the gate guard and invited Lu Yang into the camp.

Lu Yang had originally planned to push the bike, but he didn't expect Old Zhang to voluntarily become his sidekick.

He insisted on pushing the motorcycle into the camp for him, wearing an unshakable grin, as if he couldn't wait to hug the bike.

When Lu Yang entered the Artillery 9th Company, the flaming‑red Ducati, stark against the camouflage green, instantly drew everyone's attention on the training ground.

The fun of riding a motorcycle isn't just its speed and agility, but also the roar of the engine.

Such a high turn‑head rate and attention also serve as a bragging weapon.

It's comparable to a handsome foreign guy in black‑stockings high‑heels, half‑rim glasses, a sexy, graceful young woman strolling down a bustling street.

It's comparable to a foreign beauty driving a blue Bugatti, carrying a striking idol male star, waiting at a traffic light.

"Zaxi, what are you daydreaming about!"

On the open ground, the communications Squad Leader, conducting line‑retrieval training, sternly rebuked Zaxi Nima for stopping and staring.

Zaxi Nima's smile was shy; he pointed: "The motorcycle, the red one, looks great!"

The communications Squad Leader turned, first surprised, then frowned and glared: "What does a pretty motorcycle have to do with you…"

"You didn't even get a decent placement in the 5 km run, yet you still have the nerve…"

"Finish the line‑retrieval, then stand…"

"Huh?"

Ah, bullshit, two hundred fifty!

Yes...

Zaxi Nima held onto the line tightly.

He ran to the side, lay on the ground, and, huffing and puffing, started doing push-ups.

During the process, he occasionally lifted his head to look at that motorcycle in the distance, his eyes revealing curiosity about new things.

His family also had an old motorcycle, about the same age as him, bought when his parents got married.

But he had never seen a motorcycle look this good before?

I don't know how many cattle and sheep would have to be sold to afford it.

However, Zaxi Nima felt that the person beside Zhao Chuanwu looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember who?

Over there, Lu Yang didn't beat around the bush and said straight out: "I really like traditional martial arts; can you teach me Through-the-back Fist?"

Zhao Chuanwu is a straightforward person: "Of course, but time is limited; I can only teach you the basics."

It's fine; go ahead and teach, I learn quickly.

With only two days of vacation, Lu Yang didn't expect to learn it all.

However, with the system's help, as long as time is arranged properly.

You can totally treat the two days as two months; worst case, you keep practicing after returning, and come ask on weekends if anything's unclear.

Anyway, with a motorcycle, commuting is still convenient; you can learn new skills in the limited time, which greatly helps improve practical combat ability.

But when they heard Lu Yang had come to learn Through-the-back Fist from Zhao Chuanwu, Squad Leader Zhang immediately changed his attitude and hurriedly pulled Zhao Chuanwu aside.

"No, no, this Through-the-back Fist is a family heirloom; how can you casually teach it to outsiders?"

"Besides, he's not even from our regiment; who knows, we might run into him on the training field, and then he'd be an opponent!"

Although Squad Leader Zhang looked shifty, his words showed no intention of avoiding Lu Yang.

Such a thing happening was actually expected by Lu Yang; throughout history, wanting to learn a skill has rarely been free.

"How about this: as an exchange, you teach me boxing, and I'll teach you marksmanship?"

Good....

No!

Zhao Chuanwu had wanted to agree, but Squad Leader Zhang directly vetoed it.

This made Zhao Chuanwu quite embarrassed, because nowadays the internet develops rapidly, and the basic routines of Through-the-back Fist can be learned online.

In the division competition, his Through-the-back Fist lost to a veteran's Twelve Routes Leg Kick; yet that person still came to ask him for lessons, showing they treated him as a friend.

Exchanging Through-the-back Fist for shooting lessons, learning from each other to improve— isn't that great?

But Squad Leader Zhang gave him a meaningful glance, indicating he shouldn't speak recklessly.

Then he spoke righteously: "Zhao Chuanwu's little brain is all on martial arts; you'd definitely fail to teach him; besides, he's going to be an artillery chief someday, so learning this is useless."

Lu Yang somewhat understood: "Then you pick two marksmen from the squad, and I'll give them some guidance?"

Squad Leader Zhang readily agreed: "Hehe, that works; I'll pick three, and you'll train them for me."

Lu Yang knew they wanted a bargain, so he raised an eyebrow and said: "But I also have an additional condition?"

Go ahead.

Let me fire two rounds of the 152mm gun-howitzer at close range; I want to experience it.

Not even one round— ten rounds would be fine; but you're not an artillery specialist, so you can only watch from the side, the loading and firing process is very complex, no mishaps allowed— not even me, let alone the company commander, could let you handle it directly.

Fine!

I also have an additional condition: lend me this bike to ride two laps around the camp?

The Ducati is our company commander's private property, can't lend it to you, but we can take a photo together with the bike; tomorrow I'll bring the Good Forest 600, and you can ride it ten laps with no problem.

Deal!