Chapter 304: A Little Bit Tired, A Little Bit Exhausted, No Problem

"Let's draw lots."

During the march, the three rookie Platoon Leaders were called over by Gao Feng.

"Who draws the shortest one first?"

……

Cheng Jun and the other two watched Gao Feng clutching the dogtail grass in his hand, and couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

They already knew what the upcoming test would be, and naturally felt very resistant.

When relieving themselves during the march, it wouldn't make sense for an entire company to go together; it's more reasonable for it to be done Platoon by Platoon.

But which Platoon would become the lucky one selected can only be decided by drawing lots.

"I'll go first."

First Platoon Leader led the way, Third Platoon Leader followed closely, and finally Second Platoon Leader Cheng Jun.

When he saw he had drawn the shortest, Cheng Jun's face turned as if he had eaten a dead fly.

"Hahaha, Cheng Jun, it's up to you!"

"Unprecedented, the responsibility is huge!"

The two Platoon Leaders laughed and walked away, leaving Cheng Jun with a sullen expression.

"Company Commander, does it really have to be like this? They're just a bunch of new soldiers; isn't it too cruel?"

"Without weathering wind and rain, how can you see a rainbow; don't worry, there's no real danger, it's just a bit dirty and smelly, just wash it in the river later."

……

Cheng Jun actually wanted to say, being a bit cruel to the new soldiers is one thing, but can an old soldier like me grant mercy outside the law?

But in the end he didn't speak it, because he knew the Company Commander would definitely refuse.

All along the way, they've had many outdoor bathroom stops, and each time the Platoon Leader had to watch, so there would be no special treatment.

"Here they are, here they are!"

Lu Yang and a few others hidden in the shadows pressed their heads together like a pack of groundhogs, peeking out from behind the mound.

Especially Kang Changyi, who was deeply affected, his smile so thick it wouldn't melt.

He was already eager to witness a visual feast.

"Everyone stay alert, rest in place, and go to the woods to relieve yourselves Platoon by Platoon."

"First Platoon go first."

"Yes."

After First Platoon finished defecating and urinating, Second Platoon followed back.

"Report, I don't want to go to the bathroom."

"Even if you don't want to, you still have to go; even if you have to squeeze, you must squeeze out two drops."

"Yes…"

When the Second Platoon recruits gradually arrived at the designated latrine spot.

Each found a still steaming pit, some squatting, some standing.

LiMin just took off his pants and squatted; QiDelong immediately crouched beside him and asked the question he'd been wanting to ask.

"Brother Li, I've never understood why we have to gather together to poop and pee?"

"Several times before, I didn't want to go, but I was forced to come."

"Also, who on the road reported wanting to pee, why didn't the Platoon Leader allow it?"

LiMin is a history enthusiast, so he actually knows about this.

He explained that since ancient times there have been strict guidelines for outdoor marches, especially regarding the handling of waste.

Unified bathroom use serves two purposes: to maintain unit order and marching speed; and to effectively bury waste to prevent enemy tracking.

"One lump of poop can still be exposed?"

"Of course it can, otherwise what do you think military dogs are for?"

"If along the way you leave a lump of poop and I a splash of urine, the military dog will follow the scent straight to us."

"Also, waste must be collectively buried and all traces cleaned; otherwise the enemy can gauge our numbers from the amount of waste we leave."

QiDelong suddenly realized that marching and warfare involve so much knowledge.

Meanwhile, Cheng Jun, standing under a marked tree nearby, lit a cigarette.

He raised his hand like swatting a mosquito, sending a signal to Lu Yang in the distance that he could act.

Seeing the signal, Lu Yang chuckled, just pulling out a remote controller, while Kang Changyi beside him looked at him pleadingly.

"Let me, let me, I'll press the first button!"

"Alright."

Lu Yang felt this act would damage his virtue, so he handed it over to him.

Kang Changyi clutched the remote as if it were a treasure, feeling like a dragon‑slayer boy who becomes a wicked dragon.

He gave a mischievous grin and pressed the button aimed at the rookie relieving himself over there.

"Hmm? Why no response?"

The first press, no response.

Kang Changyi pressed again, and then it responded.

Boom—, the clod of earth was instantly blasted into the sky.

Just after finishing his poop and about to wipe, LiMin was suddenly thrust into the air by a force.

He slid face‑down on the grass for over a meter, executing a ButtocksUpFallingGooseStyle.

The other recruits were also terrified by the sudden scene, pulling up their pants without care and bolting away.

Clods mixed with foul-smelling objects were blown up into the sky, then, like heavenly maidens scattering flowers, they fell with a thud, making splat-splat sounds.

Although Cheng Jun had prepared in advance and hidden behind a tree, he was still hit on the arm by pitter‑patter drops of feces‑yellow mud.

The pungent odor rushed into his nostrils, and Cheng Jun gagged and dry‑retched.

"Ugh~"

"Lu Yang, you little bastard, how much explosive did you put in? The power is huge, ugh~"

"Enemy attack, enemy attack, get down!"

Explosion sounds rang out one after another in the surrounding woods.

While Lu Yang and the others were setting up the explosions, they also used a loudspeaker to simulate the sound of an air raid.

To make it more realistic and produce a 3D surround effect, Lu Yang even had Kang Changyi and a few others run around holding loudspeakers, all for the sake of greater realism.

"Get down, quick get down, are your ears deaf?"

"Don't you know how to find cover? You've wasted three months in the New Recruit Company!"

"When crawling, don't stick your butt up so high—are you afraid the enemy's bullets won't reach you?"

The shouts of the platoon leaders came over, and the frightened recruits hurriedly crawled on the ground to dodge the "shells".

The recruits fell into chaos, especially those who had just been defecating—their pants not yet pulled up, they were splattered all over with filth.

Not only were they in a sorry state, but they also reeked of foul odor; however, there was no time to think about that—escaping with their lives was paramount.

Because the explosion came so suddenly, with clods of earth, firelight, and smoke drifting down, it was all too realistic; indeed, some recruits took it for a genuine surprise enemy attack.

The recruits almost instinctively employed the tactical knowledge they had learned in the New Recruit Company.

Their crawling speed was also much faster than during routine drills.

When people sense danger, adrenaline is secreted rapidly, thereby forcing out their potential.

Watching the recruits steadily improve under his urging, Lu Yang felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

"For the Special Third Regiment, it's no matter if we suffer a bit and tire a bit; the important thing is to educate and inspire the recruits."

"Education my ass, inspiration my six!"

"These damned old soldiers, treating us like this—doesn't their conscience hurt?"

"What does the company commander even say? We can't wait until after we've finished defecating to feel the horror of the battlefield?"

By the river, the recruits who had just been tormented were vigorously rubbing detergent on their bodies and clothes, washing while cursing.

"I know this bunch of old soldiers is lacking in virtue, but I never expected them to be so shameless—launching a sneak attack while we were taking a dump, truly despicable!"

"Tell me who did it, and after I get down to the company I'll surely kill him!"

"From now on, we must stay alert, especially when eating, defecating, and sleeping!"

"I know about eating and sleeping, but how do you stay alert while defecating?"

"You wouldn't just hold it in, or suck it back, would you?"

"......"

"Alright, everyone's tired from this journey."

"The scenery here is nice; let's rest here tonight."

As dusk fell, the recruits were brought to a wasteland overgrown with weeds, surrounded by patches of small mounds.

From the woods came the cries of crows; not far off, a bamboo pole stood upright, a tattered white sail fluttering atop it.

A gust of wind blew over, scattering several round‑square‑hole paper money at their feet, and the recruits instantly got goosebumps all over.

Because this place, it turned out to be a weed‑choked graveyard......