Chapter 69: Dismissal and Replacement, Zero Tolerance for Cheating!

Damn, where's my shoe?

Weird, why does this one feel a bit cramped?

You're wearing mine, give it back quickly!

Ding Tengfei snatched the left shoe from Kong Long and quickly put it on.

Next came the fleece jacket, coat, and hat; when the Armed Belt snapped shut, Lu Yang's second backpack was already ready.

At this moment the barracks were in chaos, the recruits experiencing an emergency assembly for the first time were flustered, either unable to find clothing or missing shoes.

Fortunately, Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong helped keep order, otherwise it would have been a total mess.

The duty officer downstairs was already shouting for them, and helplessly they could only make a rough arrangement.

As long as it conveys that idea, the rest can be dealt with later; otherwise they'd really run out of time.

Quick, quick, quick, go downstairs and form the line!

Zhou Kaidong acted like a booster, pushing each soldier down the stairs.

At the same time, he cupped the bottoms of two recruits' backpacks with his hands to keep them from loosening and dropping items while descending.

Fortunately, despite the rushed urgency, Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong's skills were more than adequate.

Although some backpacks looked a bit slack, at least nothing fell out.

Third Squad, with Lu Yang's assistance, was already fast, yet still got overtaken by Fourth Class.

When forming the line, seeing the th Class Squad Leader's slightly provocative smug look, Zhou Kaidong rolled his eyes.

Lu Yang quickly scanned the tightly packed backpacks of Fourth Class's recruits and frowned.

For a first emergency assembly to be at this level, how could he not be convinced?

One after another, recruits stumbled out of the stairwell.

Some clutched blankets, supporting small yellow basins.

Some dropped items while walking, scattering equipment across the ground.

Others wore a combat boot on the left foot and a sandal on the right, looking raggedly slack behind.

Lu Yang saw it and, for the first time, got a direct visual sense of what a scene of abandoning one's armor looks like.

Gao Feng stood there expressionless until the last soldier of the Whole Company, panicking and staring at a small yellow basin, ran into the formation and took his place, after which he finally pressed pause.

Clap, clap, clap!

Gao Feng's abrupt applause, accompanied by the cold night wind, cut across the recruits' faces like a knife.

【7】 You really opened my eyes; the emergency assembly took over seven minutes?

You really opened my eyes— the emergency gathering took over seven minutes?

I've trained so many batches of recruits, and none have ever been as slow as you.

At this assembly speed, there's no need to fight; if you see the enemy, just take off your underwear, hold it over your head, and surrender.

Gao Feng didn't scold loudly; his tone was flat, yet the more he did so, the more it made people uneasy.

Before dinner I said, whether you're a mule or a horse, bring them out for a walk.

Look at your conduct, like broken soldiers, abandoning armor.

Are you horses? I don't even think you're mules; at least a mule works and can carry a load!

I won't say much; whatever state you're in now, stay that way for a while, and run two laps around the camp!

Finally!

Gao Feng turned his gaze to the th Class Squad Leader, who puffed out his chest ready for praise, only to receive a hard kick.

The sudden scene frightened many, but Lu Yang and Zhou Kaidong watched coldly, unmoved.

Both knew exactly what foolish act the th Class Squad Leader had done.

This guy truly loves cheating and taking shortcuts.

Previously, during the internal assessment, they taught recruits to shape blankets with gel water.

Now, it's the same story, truly treating the company commander like a blind man to fool.

"What I hate most are soldiers who play tricks, take shortcuts, and cheat!" Gao Feng snarled, pointing at the th Class Squad Leader's nose.

"Again and again you pull this stunt on me; do you treat me as blind, or ignore my words?"

"Emergency assembly is the training item closest to combat conditions; it tests spontaneity and urgency!"

"By telling recruits in advance to pack their backpacks and wait in the barracks, you're not helping them; you're harming them!"

"If we really go to war, other recruits can relocate quickly, but the troops you lead, accustomed to your shortcuts, will only have a dead end on the battlefield!"

Gao Feng was furious, and his rage stemmed mainly from the th Class Squad Leader's outrageous act.

For recruits, a chaotic first emergency assembly with poorly packed backpacks is normal.

Because this is a normal, reasonable reaction, only by remembering the first mess can they actively correct it later and improve.

But if everyone resorts to shortcuts like the th Class Squad Leader, we might as well stop training and just play together; what's the point of training?

When the enemy comes, they just raise a white flag—what's the point of defending home, guarding the nation? Someone who deceives even themselves and repeatedly slacks off training—how can you expect them to be loyal or truly protect the people?

Go to the other side!

He Zhen Tao said no more, directly ordering the th Class Squad Leader to go upstairs and tidy up.

If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be askew; go back to where you came from!

For such a rotten horse, they have always practiced zero tolerance!

The night temperature was low, the wind chilling to the bone.

The camp was hazy, as if shrouded in fog.

After running a short while, Lu Yang saw white ice crystals hanging on his eyelashes.

From not far away, an engine roared, and the th Class Squad Leader, lugging his bag, slipped onto the vehicle.

Watching the vehicle gradually drive out of the New Recruit Company's gate, its taillights vanishing into the misty night, everyone sighed deeply.

No one expected that, after the new training had gone on so long, a Squad Leader could still be replaced.

And the th Class Squad Leader, finally because of repeated opportunism and cheating, reaped the consequences of his deceit, becoming the Whole Company's only Squad Leader to be forcibly replaced midway.

Lu Yang thought that the th Class Squad Leader had literally narrowed the road.

If things go badly, he'll have to face punishment, and next year he'll be 100% on the discharge list.

Within the troops, the work of leading soldiers is taken very seriously, especially in an old unit like the Special Third Regiment with its glorious tradition, which places even greater emphasis on training new recruits.

Because this is cultivating the future of a unit.

If deceitful behavior takes root among the new recruits, the future detrimental impact on the Special Third Regiment would be incalculable.

It would spread like a web: one cheating Squad Leader trains eight or nine cheating soldiers; if those men later become Squad Leaders and attend the military academy, they will affect a large number of people.

Such behavior seriously crossed the company commander's bottom line, and because it wasn't the first time, there was no room for negotiation.

Without the Squad Leader's protection, the Fourth Class new recruits instantly felt like orphans without parents, anxious, scared, and at a loss.

However, although the th Class Squad Leader left, the Second Platoon Leader will temporarily take over the duties, managing the Fourth Class's situation.

During this night run, the overwhelming majority of new recruits were in a sorry state, because they had to carry a bunch of stuff.

Especially those with a combat boot on the left foot and a sandal on the right, who ran the most uncomfortably.

Nevertheless, no one dared to show emotion, let alone complain.

Because the th Class Squad Leader became the slain chicken, serving as a warning to those monkeys.

After the run, returning to the dormitory to lie down again it was already 2 a. m.

The Third Squad's new recruits, though very tired, were scarcely sleepy.

Part of it stemmed from the reflection brought by the th Class Squad Leader's removal.

More importantly, no one knew whether there would be a second emergency assembly tonight.

"Squad Leader......"

Kong Long hesitated a moment, wanting to ask.

But Zhou Kaidong's reply was, "Do you want me to be like the th Class Squad Leader?"

Kong Long fell silent, and the others also remained quiet; everyone returned to their bunks with uneasy hearts.

Having run a big circle outside with blankets and quilts on their backs, now there was no lingering warmth; it was completely icy, making lying inside especially uncomfortable.

Yet no matter how tangled the thoughts, they could not outweigh the long night; Lu Yang and the others gradually fell asleep into dreamland, though their subconscious could spare a small portion of energy to "stand guard".

This sharp intuition belongs only to veterans like Zhou Kaidong, a kind of muscle memory formed by long‑term training.

But for Lu Yang, a path that takes others eight or nine years can be completed in just two months with system assistance.

At 2:30 a. m., the temperature was near zero degrees.

He Zhen Tao drove back, with white fog hanging inside the car windows.

In the back seat appeared an unfamiliar second‑phase Non‑commissioned Officer, looking a bit dazed, clearly just dragged out of his bunk.

He was the newly appointed th Class Squad Leader, temporarily seconded from another company.

Just after parking the car, he saw Gao Feng with a cold expression walking out of the building, and He Zhen Tao hurriedly caught up.

"Still blowing?"

"Hmm."

"That's about enough; they're just new recruits."

"So what?"

Gao Feng stopped, turned his head, and looked at him.

The newly appointed th Class Squad Leader, who had just gotten out of the jeep, was still unfamiliar with this, but followed up.

He Zhen Tao urged, "Two rounds of torment in one night will wear the new recruits out. Tomorrow there's a battlefield emergency medical inspection; then not only will leaders come to check, but your counterpart is coming too, don't you want to perform well?"

Gao Feng said sternly, "This training plan was set early in the morning; it won't be postponed or cancelled due to force majeure. The previous incident was too severe in nature; we must put a chain on these kids!"

"What about tomorrow's inspection?"

"They'll be allowed to sleep a bit longer in the morning."

Having said that, Gao Feng waved at the newly appointed th Class Squad Leader.

He went over the mistakes of his predecessors with him and warned him not to repeat such errors.

Then he led him to a quiet spot beneath the dormitory building, having him sound the emergency assembly.

The newly appointed th Class Squad Leader wore a helpless expression, not expecting to be unable to act right after arriving.

The emergency assembly is not only a nightmare for new recruits but also a torment for veterans.

After all, who likes sleeping soundly at midnight only to be jolted awake?

The newly appointed th Class Squad Leader pulled a metal whistle from his pocket, took a deep breath filling his chest, then blew it forcefully.

The harsh, uneven whistle shattered all the new recruits' pleasant dreams once more, kicking the entire New Recruit Company awake.

"Emergency assembly, emergency assembly!"