Chapter 533: You Coordinate, I Command

Special Operations?

When they heard those two words, many people got excited.

But thinking about it, there's nothing really strange, after all it's someone else's training ground.

Now being set up in the dark, it made us sick to the stomach; we can't swallow it unless we tear these scum to pieces.

Zhou Kaidong worried, "But we only brought training dummy rounds, they have no lethality. If the enemy's fire is heavy, could we end up in a passive situation?"

Lu Yang fished two magazines loaded with live rounds from his bag: "I brought live ammo in case an unexpected situation arises, just in case; I'll hand them out shortly. The bullets aren't many, but for a small‑scale annihilation fight, they should be enough."

"Of course, the Platoon might not be needed; no one knows whether the enemy will come to take the cargo in a short time."

"If they sense danger and abandon the cargo, that's also possible."

The cold, hard live rounds were handed to everyone, and the image of a life‑or‑death fight instantly flashed in their minds.

Everyone looked at each other, and their moods suddenly grew uneasy.

No one expected the situation to take this turn.

A rigorous, grueling training suddenly turned into real combat—fighting drug traffickers?

Even though they knew they'd eventually see a real battlefield, they never imagined the day would arrive so soon.

Lu Yang turned back into the woods, intending to re‑bury what he had dug up to prevent the enemy from spotting any flaw.

Kang Changyi hurriedly jogged up, mustering courage to ask, "Brother Lu, can you reveal something?"

Lu Yang didn't turn his head, "Reveal what?"

Kang Changyi: "Is this thing real or fake; why is it such a coincidence that we happened to catch up with it, or is it just a test, a simulated combat assessment?"

Lu Yang turned his head to look at him, but couldn't help thinking of Xu Ce.

A well‑read, sensible person naturally has more thoughts.

They tend to habitually doubt everything.

Lu Yang made a shushing gesture, but said nothing.

Kang Changyi stayed where he was, staring blankly at his silhouette carrying a shovel disappearing into the forest, lost in thought.

Chen Panpan, Zhou Kaidong, and Ding Tengfei hurried up to ask, "What did you just ask Brother Lu?"

"I asked him whether this matter is true or false?"

"What did he say?"

"He said nothing, just shushed..."

Everyone looked at each other; each had a different interpretation.

Some thought that if it were a simulated combat assessment, the performance was too realistic.

Others felt there was a high chance it was a coincidental simulation; what in the world is that lucky?

There were also people like Zhou Kaidong, who didn't care much about truth or falsehood; as long as they follow orders, there's no need to overthink.

Zheng Chengfeng drove to the Jiaolong Special Training Base, but didn't see Hou Yi; the one who received him was his old rival Zhao Haishen, who kept winning and losing repeatedly.

"Hey, what wind blew Brigade Commander Zheng here; it's the middle of the night, not sleeping, wandering onto our camp?"

"Where's your Battalion Commander?"

Zheng Chengfeng had no time for jokes now.

Zhao Haishen said, "The Battalion Commander went out for a meeting and training; whatever it is, tell me the same."

Zheng Chengfeng: "You intend to have me speak here?"

"How could that be? Please, please."

Zhao Haishen invited him into his office.

At this moment, the camp was dark, and most soldiers were still asleep.

Because it was late night, Zhao Haishen had someone brew him a coffee and asked, "Brigade Commander Zheng, why did you come over at this hour?"

Zheng Chengfeng got straight to the point: "Has there been any training scheduled recently on that small island in your xx Sea?"

"You mean the island used for previous selections?"

"Yes."

"No, we have many training islands; that one has long lost strategic value. We usually only use it for selecting new recruits, occasionally for Island Survival Training, and otherwise no one is on it."

Zhao Haishen realized something must have happened, immediately folded his smile: "What's the matter?"

Zheng Chengfeng said gravely, "My men took a team to the island for training..."

"Hmph!"

Zhao Haishen snapped, "You sent people onto the island for training without our authorization? Who led the team—was it that kid Lu Yang? Get him off immediately!"

Zheng Chengfeng raised his hand to interrupt, "Let me finish, that's not the point."

"Then what is the point?"

"After Lu Yang landed on the island, using his familiarity with the area, he dug up a huge bag of packaged drugs in the woods—at least a few hundred kilograms."

"What??!"

Zhao Haishen sprang up, his face full of astonishment.

"Confirmed?"

"Absolutely certain, and there are three gold bars as well."

Zheng Chengfeng: "Based on current inference, a drug‑trafficking group must be using that island as a transit hub; it's unclear whether this shipment is being brought in or taken out."

Zhao Haishen's anger flared, his eyebrows almost burning: "Unthinkable, absolutely unthinkable! They actually come here to play tricks in the dark, as if they don't respect our Jiaolong at all!"

"So I had Lu Yang stay there, lie in wait, and quickly inform you; ideally we coordinate inside and out to completely eliminate that enemy group."

"Fine, but the operation plan must be led by us; he has to obey our Jiaolong command."

"No problem, as long as you don't lead the team yourself."

Zheng Chengfeng's remark struck right at his lungs.

Zhao Haishen thought about getting angry, but solving the problem is even more critical.

"I won't take part; I'll stay at the rear, handling coordination and command. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"You coordinate, I command; this mission involves not only your people but also mine, and I must be responsible for their safety."

"Zheng, what do you mean!"

"Zhao Haishen, watch your tone. My rank is higher than yours, and my position is higher too; now that both sides have agreed to cooperate, I naturally have the right to take part in the coordination and command of the operation."

Zhao Haishen inhaled a huge breath, steadied his emotions a bit.

The matter must be prioritized; he has no mood to argue with the other side—solving the issue first is most important.

He picked up the phone, ordered someone to summon Bai Yuan and Lao Mao, and briefed them on the details.

He told them to lead the team immediately, to communicate the specifics via satellite phone, ensuring the enemy can be caught in one net.

Bai Yuan was equally decisive, instantly leading a twelve‑person squad forward.

Some of them followed Lao Mao by water; the rest rode with Bai Yuan in a helicopter.

The Special Forces enjoy a privilege regular troops lack: helicopters. While other units still slog along old routes, here calling a helicopter is as easy as hailing a taxi.

On the helicopter, Bai Yuan contacted Lu Yang via satellite phone.

"Lu Yang, it's me."

After a long gap, hearing that familiar voice made Lu Yang feel very warm, and he couldn't help but make a joke.

"Yo, comrade Lao Bai, still not asleep?"

"What's the situation on your side right now?"

"The thing we dug up, I reburied it; roughly, it's near the crooked‑neck tree you lifted me up to cut, about eighty meters north into the woods, near the second‑group shelter."

"......"

Bai Yuan didn't expect the kid to hold a grudge.

With the phone on speaker, Xu Ce, Tu Hongwei and Jiang Dahai beside him couldn't help but laugh.

"We just set out, heading to the xx islet near you; at best we won't arrive until dawn."

"Stay alert to the surroundings; if any suspicious vessels approach, notify me immediately. Once confirmed as enemies, I'll send people to encircle from the rear."

"OK, pleasant cooperation."

Bai Yuan paused, flashing a grin that showed he couldn't get the better of them: "Pleasant cooperation."

He hung up, noticing Xu Ce and the other two giving him a sly look, with a weird aunt‑like grin.

Bai Yuan frowned, "What are you laughing at?"

Xu Ce chuckled, "Nothing, just think you two hit it off well."

Bai Yuan was baffled; not being much of an internet user, he had no idea what that meant.

Just as he was about to enforce discipline, the helicopter pilot shouted a reminder.

"Squadron leader, that fishing boat below seems to be heading the same way as us?"

Bai Yuan lifted his night‑vision binoculars, looked down at the sea, and indeed saw a fishing boat cruising at a steady speed.

He grabbed the communicator and called Lao Mao, who was on the water route: "At position xxx sea area, a suspicious fishing boat is underway. Divert and intercept; it's a medium‑small vessel with a blue‑painted bow, heading southwest."

"Lao Mao received, I'm on my way to check!"