Chapter 196: A Body of Male Blood, A Body of Courage

"This lion's head is really good."

"The flavor is great, and the filling is generous."

In the evening, the director's department had already started dinner.

The Regiment Commander and the Political Commissar ate the big meatballs from their lunchboxes, nodding repeatedly in approval.

The Training Section Chief laughed and said, "Two days ago the Second Battalion defeated the First Battalion, and the Sixth Company commander had the Cook Squad make Yangzhou lion's head especially to reward Lu Yang."

"It looks great, so I just borrowed their Cook Squad and made a meal for us. Try this fried rice; it's also a local specialty."

Tan Yuanzhou scooped two bites into his mouth, and indeed it was very tasty: "Each grain of rice is separate and all coated with egg; you can tell it's fried from overnight rice."

The Training Section Chief laughed, "The commander really is an expert."

Wang Zhongxi took a bite of the lion's head, then scooped two more bites of rice: "This lion's head can be added to the regiment's Cafeteria menu later; I think it's pretty good. If we make it in a clay pot and add some spinach, the meat‑vegetable pairing would be even better."

The Training Section Chief nodded, "Later I'll have Squad Leader Hong go to the regiment's institutional Cafeteria to pass on this technique."

He handed the two of them a bottle of mineral water: "Gentlemen commanders, I'm really sorry; because of the rush we didn't have time to make soup, so you can only have some mineral water."

Tan Yuanzhou wasn't being pretentious either: "Fighting in the field, being able to eat these is already divine treatment; our soldiers have been surviving these two days on cold water with compressed biscuits, and they've almost finished their individual rations."

During the exercise, being unable to light a fire to cook makes it extremely easy to expose one's position.

Therefore, compressed biscuits and individual rations became the main source for the soldiers to fill their stomachs.

Although these are enough to supplement the soldiers' basic nutrition, continuous combat without rest, high mental tension, and drinking cold water…

…still caused some relatively frail new recruits to develop acid reflux, vomiting, and diarrhea symptoms.

War has never been child's play; even though it's just a simulated opposing exercise, everything still has to follow real‑combat standards.

At that moment, the director's department curtain was drawn back, and a staff member from the directing team came in to report.

"Hello, commander!"

"There's an unexpected situation that needs to be reported to the commander!"

The Regiment Commander and the Political Commissar remained silent; the overall exercise director is the Training Section Chief.

Matters on the battlefield, this soldier naturally has to report to the overall director.

"Go ahead?"

"Just now, a violent clash occurred among friendly forces."

"Second Battalion Sixth Company deputy squad leader Lu Yang beat Platoon Leader Kang Changyi, had him tied up, and seized the Sixth Company's command."

The Training Section Chief wore a very odd expression, part surprise, part astonishment, yet it also seemed somewhat understandable.

He silently turned his head toward the Regiment Commander and the Political Commissar, as if to solicit their opinions.

Tan Yuanzhou frowned, "What prompted the move?"

The soldier said, "Lu Yang believes that holding the position leads to a dead end, so he wants to attempt a sneak attack on the enemy command, using a 'cut the firewood under the pot' tactic to stop the Third Battalion from launching a general assault. Platoon Leader Kang Changyi stubbornly holds his view, disagreeing with him, saying that if the man is on the position, the position lives; if the man dies, the position dies."

"At that moment the two had a heated argument; the platoon leader couldn't win against Lu Yang, so he used his rank to press him, ordering him to stay and guard, otherwise he'd be treated as a deserter."

"Then Lu Yang beat him up, and his nose started bleeding."

With a splat, Wang Zhongxi laughed, spitting out a mouthful of water.

"Hahaha, hahaha, this Lu Yang really does have some strength."

"When I first met him, he was a frail rookie who would collapse at the slightest rain or wind."

"Can you believe it? In just over half a year he dared to beat the platoon leader; indeed, a newborn calf isn't afraid of the tiger—heroes have always emerged in youth."

The Regiment Commander's laughter sent a very clear signal.

This soldier has blood, has courage; I like him!

Tan Yuanzhou relaxed his brow and offered his view: "The battlefield situation keeps worsening; Kang Changyi, as the only remaining commander of the Sixth Company, can't fail to see what the current situation is?"

"With the fire already at the eyebrows, if we don't quickly devise a response strategy and instead just keep defending, that's sheer stupidity!"

"If the man stays, the position stays; if the man dies, the position dies. If we lose the position and the later battle deteriorates, his death a hundred times wouldn't be a loss!"

The Regiment Commander's and Political Commissar's attitude is also the attitude of this overall director.

As the officer in the regiment who specifically plans exercise competitions and drafts training plans.

He knows clearly that to win this battle, they must find a way to take the initiative.

In Lu Yang, he sees the soldier's soul, ability, blood, and virtue.

Therefore, as long as there's a cause, the decision direction is correct, and they can hold the position, they will win the exercise.

Even 'insubordination' is no big deal, let alone Kang Changyi repeatedly makes mistakes without remorse; getting beaten is just deserved.

The Training Section Chief hesitated, "But I've heard that useless platoon leader has connections within the Division; could that…"

Tan Yuanzhou also looked at the Regiment Commander, "Later, how should we write this exercise report? Should we erase this part?"

Wang Zhongxi tightened the bottle cap and waved his hand indifferently, "Why would we erase it? If we erase it, the cause and effect become incoherent, and how would the superiors know the full process of our exercise?"

"Know who earned merit, who made mistakes?"

"I'm worried…"

"Just write the facts as they are; the higher‑ups won't be unreasonable."

"Serving in the army is all male blood; a word of disagreement leading to a clash is normal; besides, merit is merit, fault is fault, we should be impartial."

"I ask you, after Lu Yang beat someone and seized command, how did the others react?"

The soldier responsible for the report laughed, "It's gratifying; not only the Sixth Company's soldiers, but soldiers from other companies also approve!"

Wang Zhongxi laughed so hard his mouth couldn't close, "See? The people's eyes are bright; if battlefield command ability is lacking, it should be replaced by someone capable."

Tan Yuanzhou nodded, his gaze falling on the several old monitors flickering with snow, "Next, we'll see whether he can successfully sneak attack, whether he can hold out until artillery support arrives."

"Delaying one or two hours is no big deal; but trying to delay ten hours, that's hard…"

"Look!"

Suddenly, an unexpected situation appeared on the monitor.

The Third Battalion's small unit again carried out harassment on the Second Battalion's main position.

Such harassment has continued many times; most of the time it's all threat and no action—loud thunder, little rain.

The goal is to expend the Second Battalion's ammunition, wear down the enemy's will, and numb their alertness.

At the same time, a fast‑moving assault squad appeared on a monitor to the right, with Lu Yang leading it.

Under the cover of darkness and gunfire, Lu Yang and the others made a wide detour and finally reached the left flank of a company of the Third Battalion.

Unlike the Second Battalion's previously impregnable defensive formation, the Third Battalion's attacking formation is relatively weak in defense.

Overall it resembles an extremely sharp spear, with the armored units forming the solid tip.

About to gather strength and strike, it thrust with the force of a direct strike at the Yellow Dragon, hitting the Second Battalion's shattered shield.

What Lu Yang needs to do now is to use every means possible to break the shaft of that spear, depriving it of its original power.

"Assistant Squad Leader, something seems wrong in the five o'clock direction ahead!"

Liu Ziqiang wore the low‑light night vision device seized from Guo Yongwen by Lu Yang, hiding in the grass to observe the distant enemy situation.

Lu Yang raised his eight‑power scope and looked in the direction he indicated; indeed, the vegetation there looked denser, very likely camouflaged.

On a nearby tree, a rod resembling an antenna appeared, though partly obscured by branches and leaves, Lu Yang could see it clearly.

"We can confirm that a headquarters is hidden there, likely of company size."

"Heh heh, our luck is fantastic—we just arrived and already found a company commander!"

Chen Panpan looked very excited; he had never dared to do something this bold before.

If the surprise attack succeeded, he would have earned merit for the Sixth Company and made a contribution to the Second Battalion.

Lu Yang observed the enemy's surrounding troop deployment, then began to formulate a battle plan.

He divided the eight‑person squad into three combat teams in a 3‑3‑2 arrangement, assigned respectively to assault, cover, and retreat.

"We have at most twenty seconds; we must withdraw whether or not we kill the enemy commander!"

"Now is the time to unleash our motorized infantry advantage—let the enemy know what 'one breath transforms into the Three Pure Ones' means, motorized infantry!!"

Lu Yang switched to an Type‑81 assault rifle, waved his hand, and led the men slowly toward the enemy headquarters.

Under the camouflage net, Gao Feng held a bucket of instant noodles, laughing as he discussed the later overall attack plan with another company commander.

The two were chatting and laughing, oblivious to the danger that was about to arrive...